Hamas' military wing threatens to retaliate over activists' arrests, By the CNN Wire Staff
erusalem (CNN) -- The military wing of the Islamist group Hamas Wednesday threatened to retaliate against the Palestinian Authority if its arrests of its West Bank activists continue.
"Our silence will not last long" read a statement released in Gaza by the Izzedine al-Qassam brigades.
"If the security authorities continue their campaign of aggression we will end our silence."
The threat comes amid a recent renewal of unity discussions between Hamas and Fatah.
Palestinian security forces have arrested many Hamas activists after the shooting deaths last summer of four Israelis before direct peace talks began between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas, which seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007, accused the West Bank government of illegally arresting and torturing hundreds of its members, calling it part of a campaign of "continued vicious aggression" done in collaboration with the Israeli government.
President Mahmoud Abbas is the leader of Fatah, a rival Palestinian political faction to Hamas that dominates the government in the West Bank.
The renewal of unity talks between the rivals factions comes as Fatah officials continue peace talks with Israel, which were relaunched on September 2 at the invitation of the United States.
Hamas and Fatah representatives recently met and agreed on several disputed points in a reconciliation document mediated by Egypt, Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal told CNN.
"Our silence will not last long" read a statement released in Gaza by the Izzedine al-Qassam brigades.
"If the security authorities continue their campaign of aggression we will end our silence."
The threat comes amid a recent renewal of unity discussions between Hamas and Fatah.
Palestinian security forces have arrested many Hamas activists after the shooting deaths last summer of four Israelis before direct peace talks began between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas, which seized control of Gaza from the Palestinian Authority in 2007, accused the West Bank government of illegally arresting and torturing hundreds of its members, calling it part of a campaign of "continued vicious aggression" done in collaboration with the Israeli government.
President Mahmoud Abbas is the leader of Fatah, a rival Palestinian political faction to Hamas that dominates the government in the West Bank.
The renewal of unity talks between the rivals factions comes as Fatah officials continue peace talks with Israel, which were relaunched on September 2 at the invitation of the United States.
Hamas and Fatah representatives recently met and agreed on several disputed points in a reconciliation document mediated by Egypt, Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal told CNN.
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