Palestinian security forces continued crackdown against Islamic Hamas movement in the West Bank, arresting 22 Hamas supporters on Wednesday, Hamas said Thursday.
During the latest campaign, the forces, loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, also shut down a number of charities and civil organizations affiliated with the Islamic movement.
In Nablus city, the Palestinian National Authority's (PNA) security services arrested seven people affiliated with Hamas and stormed a store selling computers and software, a Hamas website reported.
In Hebron city, the forces arrested four Hamas supporters and shut down a school, kindergarten and the Islamic Society, according to the report.
Other detentions were reported in Ramallah, Qalqilya, Tulkarem and Jericho where a key Hamas-linked aid organization, al-Salah Society, was closed.
Hamas controls the Gaza Strip and Fatah dominates the regular security forces which rule the West Bank. The two parties crack down against their dissidents: Fatah people in Gaza and Hamas supporters in the West Bank.
Hamas took over the Gaza Strip by force last year after routingpro-Abbas forces. Fearing another takeover, Abbas consolidated hispower in the West Bank while Hamas tightened its grip on Gaza.
The situation between the two movements became tense last monthwhen a beachside blast killed five Hamas members in Gaza. Hamas accused Fatah of being behind the mysterious explosion.
Source: Xinhua
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