Palestinian People's Party says Hamas questioning its members in Gaza
Feb. 6, 2016 6:56 P.M. (Updated: Feb. 6, 2016 6:56 P.M.)
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=770159
GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Hamas security forces in the Gaza Strip have summoned a
number of the Palestinian People’s Party young operatives for questioning,
the leftist group said on Saturday.
In a statement sent to Ma’an, the socialist party said Gaza security forces
had recently summoned Muhammad Salih, a coordinator for the People Party’s
youths in the Gaza Strip, three times.
Two other youth leaders of the group, Hazim al-Sayyid and Salamah Abu Zeid,
have also recently been questioned after the People’s Party released
statements urging rival Palestinian political parties Hamas and Fatah to end
their dispute, which they said has resulted in “deterioration of the social
and economic life” in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The questioning of People’s Party operatives and supporters is a violation
of human rights and of freedom of expression guaranteed under Palestinian
law, the statement added.
The relationship between Hamas and Fatah has been in a dire state after a
government of national consensus was dissolved in June, one year after it
was first announced.
The two Palestinian parties have had particularly tense relations since
Hamas won legislative elections in 2006 and became the ruling party in the
Gaza Strip.
Hamas has since stifled many dissident voices in the blockaded Palestinian
territory.
Palestinian Authority officials have criticized Hamas for creating a shadow
government in the Gaza Strip and blocking efforts to reach political unity.
Hamas has in turn accused the PA of executing a plan to "eradicate" the
movement from the West Bank, saying that an arrest campaign of hundreds of
members was carried out by the PA to target reconciliation efforts between
the two factions.
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