The Islamic Hamas movement said on Sunday that the security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrested 19 Hamas members in the West Bank.
Most of the arrests were staged in the night, Hamas said in a statement, adding that the detentions took place in Qalqilya, Jenin and Ramallah.
Meanwhile, Hamas accused the Preventive Security Forces of torturing one of its members until releasing him half paralyzed.
"Omar Ahmed, from Tulkarem, was completely paralyzed in his left hand and leg due to the awful torture he received in the Preventive Security detention center," the statement said.
In response, the Preventive Security Forces issued a statement denying Hamas claims and terming them "lies aimed at justifying the killings and attacks that Hamas practice in Gaza."
The Preventive Security Forces said the Hamas members arrested in the West Bank had admitted that their operation aimed to " plotting a coup to take over the power in the West Bank."
Hamas and rival Fatah movement loyal to Abbas have been cracking down on each other since Hamas ousted Fatah from Gaza in the mid-June fighting. Fatah remains dominant in the West Bank.
On Friday, Hamas Executive Forces arrested and beat scores of Fatah supporters for marching on the streets without getting permission in advance from Hamas.
Source: Xinhua
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