Fatah accuses Hamas of torture

GAZA, July 3 (UPI) -- Fatah officials accused Hamas of torturing Fatah activists in Gaza during the weekend in the largest offensive against Fatah in months.

"Over the past 40 days, the Hamas militias have escalated their offensive against Fatah members," The Jerusalem Post quoted Fatah officials as saying. "Many are summoned (by Hamas) and forced to spend hours in the sun while their heads are covered with bags. Others are tortured and humiliated while in detention. This happens on a daily basis.

"Hamas's militias are treating the political detainees as if they were criminals. Many of them are blindfolded and held in tiny cells that are not fit for human use."

A special committee organized in June by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was dissolved after Hamas said it would not receive the delegation for talks in Gaza.

The crackdown comes on the third anniversary of Hamas's electoral victory in the Gaza Strip.