PA urged to stop detaining political activists in West Bank

Member of Public Freedoms Committee Khalil Assaf yesterday called on the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the occupied West Bank to stop political detentions, Quds Press reported.

Speaking to the news site, Assaf said that the PA continues its detention on political grounds, but at a lower pace than before the recent reconciliation agreement.

He called for the PA leadership to issue its orders to stop this detention, expressing his hope that this issue is closed forever.

“The Palestinians are waiting for a real implementation of the reconciliation, which was reached between Fatah and Hamas last Thursday, on the ground,” he said, noting that the Palestinians still fear the failure of the reconciliation as has happened in the past.

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In a statement, Hamas said the PA had arrested 20 Palestinians in Qalqilya and summons 13 others.

It added that the PA has illegally detained scores of Palestinians in its jails on political grounds.

In addition, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has called for the PA to stop its “violent political detention campaign” against Palestinian politicians and activists in the occupied West Bank.

It noted that the majority are arrested using the Electronic Crimes Law.