Ref: 81/2010

The Palestinian Centre for Human
Rights (PCHR) condemns the continued arbitrary political arrests carried out by
Palestinian security services in the West Bank targeting members of Hamas, who are subjected to detention and
maltreatment in violation of the law. The latest arrest wave, which is part of an arbitrary arrest campaign
against members of Hamas movement following an armed attack against Israeli
settlers near Hebron, was carried out against dozens of Palestinian civilians
in Hebron. PCHR reiterates its calls
upon the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and its security services to
refrain from carrying out arbitrary arrest campaigns, immediately release all
the political prisoners and put an end to political arrests.

According to investigations
conducted by PCHR, on the eve of and during the days of Eid al-Fitr,
Palestinian security services, especially the Preventive Security Service (PSS)
and the General Intelligence Service (GIS), backed by the National Security
Service, have resumed arrest campaigns targeting activists and members of Hamas
in Hebron. During the past three days,
PCHR managed to observe and document the detention of approximately 60
civilians[1] by
the PSS and GIS. The new arrest campaign
targeted traders, students, university professors, employees, muezzins,
professionals from different fields, teachers and activists in charitable
organizations. PCHR notes that those who
have been arrested since late July have been denied access to family visitation
and legal counsel. There is initial
information that some of the detainees are subjected to maltreatment.

This new campaign is a continuation
of an arrest campaign which has been carried out by Palestinian security
services following an armed attack by the Izziddin al-Qassam Brigades (the
armed wing of Hamas) on 31 August 2010, in which four Israeli settlers were
killed. At least 150 members and
supporters of Hamas have been so far arrested in the West Bank.

PCHR reiterates its condemnation of
political arrests and of the accompanying torture crimes committed against
detainees, and:

1. Reminds of the Palestinian Higher Court ruling of 20
February 1999 that provides for the illegality of political arrests. All the executive authorities must respect
this court ruling and abstain from carrying out illegal political arrests.

2. Stresses that arrests are regulated by the Palestinian law
and fall under the jurisdiction of the law enforcement officers, including the
civil police, who are directly supervised by the Attorney General.

3. Demands the immediate release of political prisoners who are
detained by the security services in the West Bank.