Hamas accuses PA forces of thwarting reconciliation efforts

The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, accused the PA security services of thwarting Palestinian reconciliation, through escalating political arrests.

The PA forces waged an arrest campaign against Hamas cadres and supporters in the West Bank most recently the leader Jafar Rayhan.

Fawzi Barhoum, the movement’s spokesman, said that PA forces work freely in the West Bank to undermine and thwart the Palestinian reconciliation efforts

He added that PA forces continued their violations and arbitrary arrests against Hamas elements despite Hamas and Fatah movements’ reconciliation talks.

Barhoum said that since the Cairo reconciliation meetings, the political arrests have escalated in West Bank, he continued, expressing concern for the future of reconciliation and national unity.

In the same context, the PA forces arrested this morning Jaafar Rayhani, a leader in Hamas movement, while on his way to his work place in Nablus.

Family sources revealed that the PA security services have stopped the leader’s car and took him to an unknown destination.

The leader Rayhan is a liberated prisoner who served several years in PA and Israeli jails. His two brothers were martyred by Israeli fire.