Alwaght- Israeli regime aims to intervene and affect the results of upcoming local elections in the occupied Palestinian territory, Hamas resistance movement said on Wednesday.
Following the abduction of Abu Kweik, Hamas’ only representative to the Palestinian Authority's Central Elections Committee, spokesperson of the movement Sami Abu Zuhri said Tel Aviv is trying to meddle in the results of Municipal elections are set to take place on 8 October.
Early on Wednesday, Israeli regime forces raided the al-Amari and Qaddura refugee camps in Ramallah as well as the Um al-Sharayit, al-Masyoun, and Beituniya areas of the city, and detained Hamas movement leader Sheikh Hussein Abu Kweik along with five other Palestinians. Two Palestinians were also injured with live fire during the Ramallah raids.
25 Palestinians were also detained during widespread raids overnight Tuesday across the occupied West Bank.
At least ten members of the Hamas movement were among the detained.
The raids came as Israeli forces withdrew from a devastating Israeli military operation in al-Fawwar refugee camp in the Hebron district that began at dawn on Tuesday and continued late into the night, during which time a Palestinian teen was killed and 45 others injured.
Clashes were particularly heavy in the al-Amari and Qaddura refugee camps, according to reports. After Israeli forces raided and searched Palestinian homes in the camps, youths threw rocks, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks at Israeli soldiers, who responded with live fire and other crowd control ammunition.
Sheikh Hussein Abu Kweik, leader of Hamas Movement
Hamas called on the Palestinian Authority (PA), chaired by Mahmoud Abbas, to stop its security coordination with Israel and preplanned abduction of the group’s campaigners in the slated elections.
“The dual targeting of Hamas leaders and affiliates will never dampen our spirits. It will only make us stronger,” the Hamas statement read. The Movement urged the international community to urgently intervene and work on releasing Abu Kweik.
Times of Israel quoted a statement from Israel’s spy service the Shin Bet as saying Abu Kweik was detained “for his involvement in security-related activities that presented a threat to security in the area,” and that he was suspected of “incitement.”
Additional allegations may be brought against the senior Hamas official following his interrogation, the Israeli spy agency statement reportedly added.
The five other detainees were identified by the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society (PPS) as Yousif Abu Saif, 28, Nael Abu Kweik, 34, Husam al-Wawi, 23, Muhannad Samara, 28, and Jihad al-Azzeh.
An Israeli army spokesperson told Ma’an they were looking into reports of the clashes and resultant injuries, but was able to confirm the six detentions in the city. One suspected Hamas operative was detained in Beituniya, while five Palestinians were detained in al-Amari refugee camp, three of which were members of Hamas -- including Abu Kweik.
