Palestinians arrest dozens of Hamas members in West Bank

Image
AFP Ramallah
Last Updated : Mar 09 2015 | 11:22 PM IST
Palestinian security forces in the West Bank arrested dozens of members of the Islamist movement Hamas, sources on both sides said.
The Palestinian Authority (PA), which has its headquarters in Ramallah, has regularly detained Hamas members, including MPs, over the past few years.
But the ongoing crackdown is a sign of the failure of a nearly year-old unity deal between Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, and the rival Fatah which dominates the PA.
"We received information that 60 members of Hamas were arrested throughout the West Bank," a source from the Hamas headquarters in the territory, who asked to remain anonymous, told AFP without elaborating.
An official from the PA's security forces, also requesting anonymity, said there were around 40 arrests, but also gave no further details.
Under last April's unity deal, Hamas was to relinquish control of the Gaza Strip, paving the way for Palestinian general elections by the end of 2014.
But despite agreeing on a government of independents appointed in June, the deal stalled during a July-August war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, and because of disputes over wages and control of the enclave.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Mar 09 2015 | 11:22 PM IST

Next Story