Arrest Campaign against Hamas Member in the West Bank

Palestinian Security Services Launch Arrest Campaign against Hamas Member in the West Bank

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is deeply concerned over a wide-scale arrest campaign launched by security services in the West Bank last week against a number of Hamas members. PCHR calls upon the national unity government in Ramallah to take clear measures that completely compel the law enforcement authorities to fully comply with the law and completely stop arrests on political grounds.

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, on Sunday evening, 08 March 2015, the security services in the West Bank launched an arrest campaign throughout the West Bank against 32 Hamas members as follows:

- In Tulkarm, the General Intelligence Service (GIS) arrested 'Abdullah Yasin 'Abdullah Foqahaa' (50), a Hamas leader, from his house in Kafr al-Labad village east of Tulkarm; Sadeq Samih Sadeq al-Qarout (51), a teacher, from the Teacher's Housing north of the city; and Rushdi Husni Nemer Jayousi (46), a teacher, from Ertah Street south of Tulkarm. A GIS forces raided a house belonging to 'Ammar Kamal Mahmoud Manna'a (40) in Abu Taqah Mountain, east of the city. However, they could not arrest him as he was not at home then.

- In Jenin, the GIS arrested Issam 'Abdel Rahman Yousif Shalabi (65) and Aktham Rafiq Sadeq Abu 'Abeid (43) from Jenin, and 'Ali 'Abdel Qader Qasem 'Atiq (56) from Burqin village, west of the city.

- In Nablus, the security services arrested Abdul Hakim Wasif al-Qadeh (47), from al-Ettihad Street, and Sameeh Suleiman Eleiwi (52), from the northern mount. They also raided a house belonging to Ramez Abu Salha (47) in al-Ta'awon Street. It should be noted that Abu Salha who works in Nablus municipality, was arrested by the security services on Thursday, 05 March 2015.

- In Tubsa, the security services arrested Nader Mostafa Sawafta (39) and Osama Sati Sawafta (32) from Tubas; Ahmed DaifAllah Rashad Sawalma (45) from al-Far'ah refugee camp south of the city; and Ali Mohammed Hamad Bani Ouda (45) from Tamoun village southeast of the city.

- In Hebron, the GIS carried out house raids in a number of neighborhoods in Hebron. They arrested four Hamas members: Safwan Talal Akram Abu Snaina (20) from al-Malek street; Hazem Durr Nemer al-Fakhouri (40) from Sha'aba neighborhood, whose house was searched without a search warrant, his family was insulted and PC set and cell phones were confiscated; Tha'er Zeyad al-Fakhouri (24) from Abu Kteila street; and Zaid Ekrema Mostafa Qawasma (29) from Ein Sarah street.

- In Ramallah and al-Bireh, the security services arrested Abdul Shafi Dahla (28); Mos'ab Fathi Barari (27); Osaid Hashash (21); Salah Hmeida (42); Mohammed Hassouna (28) and Karim Qert (24), who are all from Beitounia village, west of Ramallah. Dahla was arrested by the Preventive Security Service (PSS) while the others were arrested by the GIS.

- In Jericho, the PSS arrested Sobhi Abdul Aziz Drei'at (37); Rashid al-Khateeb (42); Khaled Barahma (29); Eyad Hamdi (30); and Hazem al-Shweiki (44).

- In Qalqilya, the GIS arrested Ahmed Mostafa Kharouf Shreim (34).

- In Salfit, the GIS arrested Hamam Hassan Saloum Mer'i (46), a mosque Imam, from Qarawet Bani Zaid village, northwest of Salfit.

- In Bethlehem, the security services arrested Dr. Ghassan 'Isa Mohammed Hermas, a lecturer at al-Quds Open University.

PCHR is deeply concerned over the arrest campaign and:

1. Calls upon the national unity government in Ramallah to fully adhere to the law and completely stop arrests on political grounds;

2. Reminds of the Palestinian High Court of Justice ruling on 20 February 1999, which considers political arrests illegal, and all executive bodies must respect the court ruling and abstain from carrying out illegal political arrests; and

3. Calls upon Palestinian security services to fully comply with the constitution and other relevant laws and to respect human rights.

ENDS

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