Hamas leader denies forming militant group to harm PA in the West Bank

Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef has denied reports claiming that the Islamist movement has formed a militant group to target the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank.

Yousef said in a statement that such rumors are a “desperate attempt” to justify the recent arrest of 180 Hamas members, leaders and supporters in the West Bank by PA security services.

“Rumours claiming that Hamas has formed a militant group north of the West Bank to create a state of instability in the West Bank are untrue and come on political grounds at a time when the movement hopes that all Palestinians will unite to develop a common plan to face the Israeli settlements and the Judaisation of Jerusalem,” Yousef said.

Yousef called on Hamas supporters to organise peaceful sit-ins to protest against the arrests that recently took place in the cities of Ramallah and Hebron.