By Xinhua,
Ramallah : The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced Wednesday that the security forces of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrested 27 people of the movement’s activists in the West Bank.
The movement said in a leaflet that the arrests took place in West Bank towns of Hebron, Nablus, Tulkarem, Salfit and Bethlehem, adding that most of them are students and mosques activists.
After Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in mid June last year, Abbas security forces arrested hundreds of Hamas leaders and activists for fear that Hamas plans for taking control of the West Bank.
In the meantime, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip has arrested hundreds of Fatah leaders and activists. Both rival movements are trading accusations through the local media.
A dialogue that aimed at reaching a national reconciliation between the two movements was postponed after Hamas movement and two other groups announced they will not attend the dialogue that was due in Cairo on Nov. 11.
Hamas said that it would not attend the dialogue in Cairo as long as Abbas security forces keep dozens of the movement’s activists in West Bank jails.
After Egypt announced that the dialogue has been postponed, each side has blamed the other for being responsible for the dialogue’s failure.