Does Hamas have a 'revolutionary plan' for the West Bank?
After a recent arrest campaign against Hamas members in the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority has charged that the movement plans to gain control of the territory.
RAMALLAH, West Bank — A new wave of tension has prevailed in the relationship between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (PA), after security services in the West Bank launched an arrest campaign July 2 against Hamas members.
This old and new issue has recently reached the point of an exchange of threats between members of Hamas and the PA, while at the same time leaving an impact on the Palestinian reconciliation that has not yet been achieved.
Hamas said in a press statement July 21, “The Palestinian security services have so far arrested 86 [Hamas] members in the West Bank on political grounds. Most of these members were arrested at the beginning of this month, in the framework of a wide-scale arrest campaign.”
Samira al-Hulaiqa, a member of Hamas' Legislative Council for the West Bank, told Al-Monitor, “Most of those arrested in the latest arrest campaign were released, which proves that this campaign was just for show.”
