Hamas threatens to attack Palestinian Authority officials if arrests on its members continue

Hamas threatens to attack Palestinian Authority officials if arrests on its members continue

2010-10-07 05:39:38 GMT+7 (ICT)

GAZA STRIP (BNO NEWS) – Hamas on Wednesday threatened to attack senior Palestinian Authority officials in the arrests of Hamas members continue.

A Hamas spokesperson said that the organization will take drastic measures if the Palestinian Authority continues its policy of arresting Hamas officials. The announcement came after a Hamas official, Abd El Rahman Zidan, was arrested by Palestinian Security Forces.

Zidan, 50, was arrested after his residence in Dir village, northern West Bank, was surrounded by approximately 100 Palestinian security officials at approximately 1:00 a.m. local time. After waking him up and his family, the security officials searched through his belongings.

The top Hamas official was transported to the security headquarters wearing his pajamas. He was released in the main streets minutes after his arrival. Recently, Zidan expressed his opposition towards the re-launch of the Israel-Palestine peace negotiations.

Last September, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) killed a Hamas military commander in the east region of the West Bank, the latest episode in the violent clashes between both sides. Iyad Shilbayeh, a Hamas strongman, was killed during an overnight security operation which angered Hamas.

Hamas and Israel released two different version of the incident. IDF said that Shilbayeh ran towards an Israeli soldier in a threatening manner and was shot in return. However, Hamas and relatives of Shilbayeh claimed that he was shot three times whiles sleeping in his home.

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