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PA security forces arrest 170 Hamas activists in West Bank

[ssba]

The security forces of the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA) has carried out a wave of arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank.

According to Ynet, the arrests were made in several stages and were carried out in connection with the shooting dead of two Israeli civilians in the West Bank in recent weeks. Israeli officials have said that they believe Hamas is linked to the shootings, which both happened in an area north of Ramallah.

PA security forces spokesman, Adnan al-Damiri said that the arrests were made as Hamas is attempting to undermine its authority in the West Bank. Hamas’s Ismail al-Ashqa said that if the arrests continue, PA forces could become the target of “Palestinian resistance.” It prompted the Fatah faction, headed by PA President Mahmoud Abbas to respond, “If Hamas tries to test our patience and commit a terror attack that affects Palestinian security – the organisation will meet with a response it cannot imagine.”

Last month, Abbas announced that the unity government agreed last year with Hamas would be dissolved, signalling the effective collapse of the reconciliation process between Fatah and Hamas.  Ever since Hamas violently seized the Gaza Strip from the PA in 2007, relations between Hamas and Fatah have been bitter. Reconciliation appeared to be a possibility when the unity government was established in April 2014. Although a cabinet backed by Fatah and Hamas was established, the unity agreement was never fully implemented and two have not shared power. As a result, Hamas remains in exclusive control of the Gaza Strip, while the PA is the sole authority in Palestinian areas of the West Bank.

Meanwhile, last week, Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency announced that it had arrested 40 Palestinians on suspicion of establishing a Hamas headquarters in the West Bank city of Nablus. The Shin Bet said that the cell “intended to strengthen Hamas’s hold in the area and prepare the groundwork for the day it can resume terror attacks.”