Palestinian official abduction Israeli regime terrorism: Iran MP

A senior Iranian lawmaker has condemned the abduction of Palestinian Parliament Speaker Aziz Dweik as an act of terrorism by the Zionist regime.

“Such act which has been repeatedly carried out by the Zionist regime [of Israel] is a clear example of state terrorism,” Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of Iran’s Majlis Alaeddin Boroujerdi said on Monday.

“The Zionist regime will foment crisis in the region through these measures,” the Iranian legislator said, adding that Palestinians will give “a serious response to the measure, which is in contravention of all international regulations.”

He also called upon the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union (IIPU) to take proper measures to secure the release of the Palestinian official and other lawmakers kidnapped by the Israeli regime.

Such measures will only strengthen the resistance front and they indicate Israel’s concerns about unity among Palestinian groups, Boroujerdi stated.

On Monday, Israeli forces arrested Dweik in a wave of abductions linked to the alleged disappearance of three teenage Israeli settlers.

An Israeli army statement said more than 40 suspects in the West Bank, including Dweik who is a member of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, had been arrested, bringing the total number of arrests under the pretext of the alleged disappearance to at least 150.

Israel claims the teenagers went missing in southern West Bank last Thursday, accusing Hamas of kidnapping them.

Hamas rejects Israel’s claim, saying Tel Aviv intends to sabotage the recent reconciliation accord reached between the movement and Fatah that led to the formation of the Palestinian national unity government.

On Sunday, Israeli forces abducted Hamas leaders Hassan Yousef, Wasfi Qabaha, Khaled Abu Arafeh and Mohammed Totah.