Haniyeh accuses Abbas of evading national reconciliation

Deputy head of Hamas Political Bureau Ismail Haniyeh accused the Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas of evading Palestinian national reconciliation by continuing with the policies of political detention and security cooperation with Israel, the Anadolu Agency reported today.

In a press release, Haniyeh said: “Political detention by the PA security services undermines all efforts aiming to end the division and reach a national reconciliation.”

“Political detention is part of the security cooperation with the Israeli occupation, which is completely condemned.” He called for the Palestinian factions to have a national position regarding these measures.

Hamas says the PA security services arrested around 200 Hamas members, including 37 students and 38 Palestinians who had previously been held in Israeli jails over the last few days.

Earlier this month, spokesman of the PA’s security services Adnan Al-Dameeri said all those detained are awaiting criminal investigations.