9 April 2000

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Mercy-giving

New wave of arrests takes place
in Jenin and Nablus by PA security apparatus

Commenting on the Palestinian Authority’s newest arrests in Jenin and Nablus, a responsible source in the Hamas Movement stated the following:

At a time when the Palestinian Authority is standing helpless in the face of the Zionist enemy and is surrendering to whatever that enemy dictates, it continues the policy of repression, violation of liberties and tightening the noose round our people’s rights, freedoms and dignity. That Authority arrested a number of school students in the city of Nablus for preparing a photo exhibition in solidarity with our people’s detainees in the jails of the Zionist enemy on the occasion of the Palestinian detainee’s day. The PA also arrested a number of Islamic cadres in the city of Jenin.

Such incessant arrests within the ranks of our people confirm that the PA and its security apparatus are in a state of confusion. These arrests further make clear the PA’s annoyance with any activity, even if it is at the level of secondary school students. It is all the more painful that the Authority adds new detainees to the already existing list, at a time when our people are expressing their solidarity with internees in occupation prisons on the anniversary of the Palestinian detainee’s day!

That Authority, which neglected the issue of those heroic detainees, surrendered to the enemy conditions regarding them and left them to oblivion and is now trying to repress any activity to revive their case, such as expressing solidarity with them or pressuring the enemy to release them.

The PA’s repeated arrests in Jenin and Nablus—even the arrest of students—all add to its long record of suppression of public freedoms and detention of honourable elements opposing its capitulatory policy as far as our people’s rights and sanctities are concerned. Those elements object to the PA’s corruption, to security cooperation with the enemy’s security bodies and to the prosecution and liquidation of the Mujahideen. We recall here what happened to the group of 20 and the security men’s assault against a number of Legislative Council members.

Such repressive practices will not prevent our people and their active forces, syndicates and students from persisting in their role in confrontation of the occupation, backing the resistance, maintaining solidarity with the internees, rejecting PA’s policies and suppressive practices and exposing its corrupt administration and security apparatuses.

We demand that the PA immediately release all detainees, end political detention and halt its repressive measures. We also call on our people to maintain solidarity with the heroic detainees in the jails of the Zionist enemy and the Palestinian Authority.

Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas - Palestine