By Xinhua
Ramallah : Palestinian security forces have arrested 35 Hamas members in the West Bank, including two prominent leaders, the Islamic movement said Sunday.
“In Ramallah, the security services detained Sheikh Hussein Abu Kwaik and Sheikh Faraj Romana, both are Hamas leaders, but were released later,” Hamas said in a statement.
The rest of the 33 members have been detained, the statement said, adding that they were taken into custody from Jenin, Salfit and Tulkarem cities and northern Ramallah territories.
Abu Kwaik and Romana were known for their moderate stance towards Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement.
On several occasions, the two had called on the Hamas to end its control over Gaza and gained prominence after they routed pro-Abbas security forces in the coastal strip.
Abu Kwaik and Romana were detained for their statements in the media Saturday, criticising the arrest of Hamas members by pro-Abbas security forces.
Since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June, the pro-Abbas security forces have been cracking down on Hamas supporters in the West Bank to prevent the Gaza violence to spread over to the relatively stable West Bank.