Social media campaign against PA political arrests

Social media activists have launched campaign to protest the arrest of a number of Palestinian citizens in the occupied West Bank by the Palestinian Authority (PA) over their political affiliation, Felesteen newspaper reported on Sunday.

The hashtag of the campaign is “#security cooperation is treason”, referring to the security cooperation between the PA and Israel.

Palestinian news agency Safa said that activists took to social media after the PA had cracked down on a protest against the political arrests, which was held in Ramallah. The PA security services arrested three protesters after dispersing all others.

Activists began protesting against the political arrest in the wake of remarks made by Adnan Al-Dameeri, the PA security services spokesman in the West Bank, in relation to the arrest of Hamas members. He claimed that they were arrested over attempts to “destabilise” the West Bank.

Anadolu agency reported the activists as saying that they would gradually escalate their campaign, which includes disclosing incriminating remarks and acts of PA politicians and security service personnel against Palestinians who adopt opposing political views.

Palestinian factions in Gaza held a joint press conference on Saturday calling for an end to the PA’s arrest campaign against what they call signs of political “resistance”.

The arrest campaign comes in wake of a series of counter-attacks carried out by Palestinians against Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.