Hamas threatens PA leadership

GAZA, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- The military wing of Hamas threatened to attack Palestinian Authority leaders if they continue to detain Hamas operatives in the West Bank, officials said.

"We are fed up with the PA security's behavior in the West Bank. Over the past period, we have preferred to give reconciliation efforts all the time needed; however, we hereby say we will not remain silent for long," Ma'an news agency quoted Abu Obeida, a spokesman for the Hamas military wing in Gaza, as saying Wednesday.

Obeida read out a statement he said was on behalf of 12 military factions operating in the Gaza Strip.

The actions of the Palestinian security services in the West Bank, who have arrested and allegedly tortured Hamas operatives, have pushed the Gaza groups to the limit, he said.

It appears the efforts under way to reconcile Hamas and Fatah factions have not deterred the security forces from arresting Hamas members, he said. The efforts "were not enough to prevent chasing and detaining mujahedin. Nobody can blame us if we go after leaders of the Fatah-run authority everywhere, and treat them equally."

In response to his threats, Fatah spokesman Ahmad Asaf accused Hamas of trying to sabotage unity talks by issuing statements using "inciting rhetoric as a distraction to its real, undeclared goal of rejecting conciliation, continue with division and restoring their rule on Gaza to keep their personal privileges."

The Hamas threats come amid Egyptian efforts to bring about a resumption of unity talks between the two factions, the agency said.