The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Islamic Hamas movement on Monday condemned the killing of a senior Hamas militant by Israeli army in a raid in the West Bank.
Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said his government “condemns the Israeli policy of assassinations and the ensuing undermining of the PNA’s efforts” in the West Bank.
On Monday morning, Israeli forces killed Ali Al—Sewiti who was holed up in a house in Beit Ouwa neighbourhood in southern Hebron which is controlled by the PNA.
The Israeli army often carries out operation in PNA—controlled areas in the West Bank.
Meanwhile, the Islamic Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip, blamed the killing of its commander on the PNA’s security liaison with Israel. “More security coordination means more deaths of our people,” Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, told Xinhua.
Mr. Barhoum urged the PNA “to set the hand of resistance in the West Bank free to curb the Israeli aggression.” Earlier on Monday, an Israeli army spokesman said that the Israeli soldiers and wanted Palestinian activists exchanged fire when the army came to arrest them in Beit Ouwa.
Al—Sewiti rejected the soldiers’ calls to surrender, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, residents of the neighbourhood threw stones at the invading forces after news about the death of Al—Sewiti, who had been wanted for seven years, spread. At least two Palestinians were injured in the clashes, according to the witnesses.
Two owners of the house that Al—Sewiti had been holed up have been detained, according to the Palestinian security sources.
