Hamas called on all components of Palestinian society to mobilize in order to confront the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) “unprecedented” level of “aggression” against it and other terror groups in the West Bank, the terror group confirmed in a Friday press release.
In the statement, Hamas accused PA security forces of brutally coercing the Palestinian public into supporting its recent crackdown on West Bank terror groups.
Hamas regularly faces accusations regarding its
own abuse against Palestinians. A September New York Times article highlighted Palestinian activists and whistleblowers in Gaza who complained of the brutal treatment they faced for speaking out against the terror group.
In November, the IDF also released a 45-minute video exposing Hamas beating and torturing Palestinians.
No idea. The statement comes amid an ongoing PA counter-terror campaign in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin, which has seen a number of clashes between PA security forces and local insurgents.
Hamas accused PA security forces of brutally coercing the Palestinian public into supporting its recent crackdown on West Bank terror groups.
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Hamas claimed the PA had engaged in “beating and humiliating citizens, pursuing women and young people, and forcing them under threat to give statements or write posts” in support of the Authority’s effort.
The terror organization urged Palestinians to oppose the PA’s counter-terror actions, stating that such opposition was necessary to prevent Palestinian society from splintering.
The latest escalation in tensions between Hamas and the Fatah-headed Palestinian Authority came only months after Fatah and Hamas agreed to form a unity government as part of the
Bejing Declaration.
The agreement between Fatah and Hamas was condemned by then-Foreign Minister Israel Katz who claimed, “Instead of rejecting terrorism, [PA President] Mahmoud Abbas embraces the murderers and rapists of Hamas, revealing his true face. In reality, this won’t happen because Hamas’s rule will be crushed, and Abbas will be watching Gaza from afar. Israel’s security will remain solely in Israel’s hands.”
This is not the first time Fatah's attempts to jointly rule with Hamas have failed as Hamas expelled Fatah following a failed coalition government in 2007.