Palestinian forces arrested 108 Hamas members in the West Bank. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – The Palestinian Authority (PA) initiated a widespread crackdown on Hamas terrorists in overnight raids in the West Bank on Friday, marking one of the largest such raids in years.

“We are arresting them for interrogation or to put them on trial based on evidence [that] they are threatening Palestinian internal security and stability and are trying to drag the region and drag us into military confrontation and destroy the area,” said Adnan Al-Dmairi, the PA’s security spokesman, Reuters reported.

According to Hamas, 108 of its members were taken into custody by PA security forces in Hebron, Nablus, and Bethlehem.

While the PA-affiliated Fatah political party signed a reconciliation agreement with Hamas last year, distrust remains high between the rival Palestinian factions. Recent reports have said the reconciliation deal has collapsed.

“Actions by these collaborator services will not break the movement and will not weaken resistance. We call for the immediate release of prisoners and we warn of the consequences of these unpatriotic measures,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.