Hamas slams Israel’s ‘cowardly’ abductions in West Bank

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly condemned the Israeli regime for abducting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, saying the “cowardly” move violates international conventions.

In a statement issued on Monday, Hamas said the abduction of dozens of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank was a “flagrant violation of all international conventions and a cowardly act that exposes the spirit of defeatism and wallow” among the Israelis.

Tel Aviv would fail to achieve its goals by abducting Palestinian leaders, said Hamas, stressing, “It will only increase our people’s determination to proceed with their steadfastness and resolve until they achieve their demands and legitimate goals.”

The resistance movement called on the Arab and Muslim countries in the world to condemn the crimes perpetrated by the Israeli regime.

Ahmed Bahar, a senior Hamas official, also warned Israel of the repercussions of detaining Palestinian figures, saying that Palestinians have the right to “resist occupation with all available means.”

On June 16, Israeli troops took away Palestinian Parliament Speaker Aziz Dweik in a wave of abductions in connection with the alleged disappearance of three teenage settlers.

More than 150 Palestinians have so far been abducted under the pretext of the alleged disappearance. Israel claims the teens went missing in the West Bank last week, accusing Hamas of kidnapping them.

However, Hamas rejects the claim, saying Tel Aviv seeks to sabotage the recent reconciliation accord reached between the movement and Fatah, which led to the formation of the Palestinian national unity government.

Hamas leaders Hassan Yousef, Wasfi Qabaha, Khaled Abu Arafeh and Mohammed Totah have been among those recently abducted by Israel.