Palestinian resistance group Hamas has warned Israel against expelling Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip.
In a Wednesday statement, Hamas said the expulsion of Palestinians by Israel would "have grave consequences for which the [Israeli] occupation will be fully responsible."
It threatened "escalatory moves" against any Israeli measure aimed at expelling Palestinians from the West Bank, calling on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to use all political and diplomatic means to prevent Israel from taking such a step.
Hamas also appealed to Arab countries and the international community to stop "this aggressive Zionist behavior, which violates all international laws and norms."
The Israeli government accuses Hamas of abducting three settlers who went missing from the Jewish-only Gush Etzion settlement in the West Bank last Thursday.
Since then, Israeli forces have detained scores of Palestinians – including several Hamas lawmakers and former ministers – against the backdrop of the settlers' disappearance.
No Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the alleged kidnapping thus far, nor has Israel produced any evidence of Palestinian involvement.
On Tuesday, Israel's security cabinet discussed proposals for expelling Palestinians from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip, vowing to ratchet up military pressure on Hamas and make conditions worse for Hamas-affiliated detainees languishing in Israeli prisons.
By Mustafa Haboosh
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
