Hamas slams PA for arresting its activists in West Bank

Hamas criticizes the Palestinian Authority and President Mahmoud Abbas, claiming the PA is arresting Hamas student activists in Judea and Samaria for fear of the group’s rising popularity in the West Bank, NRG reports.

Hamas officials demand that the PA release all Hamas activists held in PA jails in the West Bank and to refrain from any future arrests. Additionally, the officials said they see Abbas as solely responsible for the persecutions.

The Gaza-based terror group said arrests of students identified with Hamas were an act of revenge by the PA after Hamas won the elections for the student body at Bir Zeit University. Hamas called for elections in all Palestinian universities and claimed the PA is preventing such a move because it knows Hamas will gain support.

Hamas student unions recently won in Bir Zeit as well as in the Hebron Polytechnic school.