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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Source: 20 Hamas leaders detained, funds seized |
| 2010-08-01 |
| [Ma'an] Palestinian Authority security forces detained at least 20 Hamas leaders in Nablus over the past two days, a security source told Ma'an Saturday. Among those detained was Islam Al-Betawi, son of Hamas-affiliated lawmaker Hamed, the source said. Additionally, over €200,000 was seized by PA forces after locating what the source described as a "Hamas hideout" in the city. The source identified four other detainees as Samer Al-Masri, Ghassan Daoud, Mousa At-Tanbur and Muhyi Ad-Din As-Sal'us, but refused to give further details on their arrest, saying all were still being questioned. Earlier Saturday, Hamas said PA forces detained two party supporters in Nablus, including an elementary school teacher and a university student, but did not mention the detention of West Bank leaders. The Islamist movement has accused the Fatah-affiliated forces in the West Bank of detaining several leaders. In June, Hamas spokesman Salah Bardawil said the movement would be "obliged to reciprocate" to political arrests after Khalid Al-Hajj, a party leader, was detained in Hebron. Both rival movements have accused one another of carrying out political arrests in the areas they presently govern, with Hamas issuing nearly weekly statements on supporters being detained by Palestinian Authority security forces. |
| Posted by:Fred |