The Hamas movement stated that the wide-ranging arrests carried out by the Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank, particularly in Hebron, Nablus, and Tulkarem, are part of a policy aimed at tormenting Palestinians, exerting pressure on them, and pushing them towards displacement. They called for international action to protect the prisoners and hold accountable those responsible for violations against them.
This position was expressed in a press statement today, Wednesday, coinciding with the announcement by the Palestinian Prisoners' Club of the arrest of at least 45 citizens in several governorates in the West Bank, including five women and two journalists, one of whom is Hazem Nasser, who was re-arrested by the occupation forces just two weeks after his release. Hamas confirmed that the storming of homes, terrorizing families, and arresting women, released prisoners, journalists, and students reflect the widening scope of targeting, emphasizing that these practices will not undermine the resilience and steadfastness of the Palestinian people, nor will they push Palestinians to abandon their rights or leave their land. The movement warned against the continuation of the policies of pursuit, arrest, and torture, calling on the international community to exert pressure on the occupation and work to protect prisoners, amid serious violations and inhumane detention conditions and deprivation of basic rights. They called on national and Islamic forces to unify efforts to support the prisoners and their families, enhance popular, legal, and media work, and keep their cause present in local and international forums.
According to the Prisoners' Club, the arrests concentrated in the governorates of Nablus and Hebron and extended to Qalqilya, Tulkarem, and Bethlehem, alongside a field investigation campaign in Jenin that targeted a number of citizens before their release. The club stressed that the re-arrest of released prisoners shortly after their releases, and the targeting of women and journalists, reflect the ongoing pursuit even after release, and the use of arrest as a means to pressure different segments of Palestinian society. In this context, the case of journalist Hazem Nasser stands out, as he was arrested from his home in the Shu'fat neighborhood north of Tulkarem, after being released two weeks ago following two years of administrative detention. The arrests in the governorate included five released prisoners, among them two elderly individuals from the town of Iktaba. The arrest campaigns coincide with human rights concerns regarding the safety of Palestinians inside Israeli prisons and detention centers. According to the United Nations Office for Human Rights, at least 92 Palestinian prisoners have died between October 7, 2023, and September 16, 2026, including 56 from the Gaza Strip, 32 from the West Bank, and four from Palestinians in the occupied interior. Source: Agencies #Hamas #WestBankArrests #PalestinianPrisoners