Hamas Accuses Israel of Arresting its Activists to Influence Elections

A sign point to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission regional office in Gaza. (Reuters)
A sign point to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission regional office in Gaza. (Reuters)
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Hamas Accuses Israel of Arresting its Activists to Influence Elections

A sign point to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission regional office in Gaza. (Reuters)
A sign point to the Palestinian Central Elections Commission regional office in Gaza. (Reuters)

The arrests by Israeli forces of university students, who back Hamas, aims to undermine the determination of the youth, who will play a pivotal role in the upcoming elections, said the movement on Tuesday.

It is also an attempt to impact the elections results by silencing active and influential figures, it added.

The reconciliation and partnership processes are a national priority, Hamas said, stressing that it will end the internal division and launch a comprehensive national struggle program to confront the Israeli occupation and settlements.

It further called on “all the free people around the world and the parliaments of democratic and friendly countries to impose sanctions” on Israel that has been “targeting Palestinian democracy for years.”

“The arrests are part of an occupation policy followed since 2006 and based on undermining Palestinian political life and excluding a major and active Palestinian party that has been nationally legitimized,” it said.

Israel has launched an almost daily campaign of arrests in the West Bank and has recently targeted Hamas activists and leaders.

In February, Israeli forces escalated a campaign targeting lawmakers in the Palestinian Legislative Council and leaders of the factions, Hamas-affiliated media outlets have reported.

They recalled a previous campaign during which Israel arrested more than a third of lawmakers, including Speaker Aziz Dweik, after the 2006 elections.

Hamas has threatened to prevent Israel from interfering in the upcoming Palestinian elections, scheduled for May 22.

Media advisor to the leader of Hamas, Taher al-Nounou, said in statements to Al-Aqsa channel that the movement can force Israel not to meddle in the elections, stressing it “has alternatives and means to enable it to do so.”

He did not elaborate.

The movement had previously resorted to field escalation, especially in the Gaza Strip, as part of pressure on Israel to respond to its demands.

Palestinian factions and independent candidates are preparing to run in the legislative elections that will be held for the first time in 16 years.

Fatah has decided to go forward in the upcoming elections to achieve national unity, end division, revive democratic practices and activate the legislative authority of the Palestinian people, Fatah deputy chief Mahmoud al-Aloul explained on Tuesday.



Sudan Lashes Out at Kenya's 'Hostile' Support for Rival Govt

Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
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Sudan Lashes Out at Kenya's 'Hostile' Support for Rival Govt

Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)
Sudanese attend a protest in support of the army in the eastern city of Gedaref on February 22, 2025. (AFP)

Sudan's army-aligned administration lashed out Monday at what it called Kenya's "irresponsible and hostile" support for efforts by Khartoum's paramilitary rivals to form a parallel government.

Since April 2023, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, once allies, have been locked in a power struggle that has dragged the country into war.

Late Saturday, the RSF and a coalition of political and armed groups signed in Nairobi a charter that would pave the way for a "peace and unity" government in rebel-held areas, with Kenya's foreign minister later saying the proposed administration would restore "democratic governance" in Sudan.

Sudan's foreign ministry condemned the "dangerous precedent" on Monday, saying that "in a grave threat to regional security and peace, the Kenyan leadership has adopted the parallel government that the genocidal militia and its followers intend to declare in some of the remaining pockets under their control".

The government, it added, would take "the necessary steps to respond to this irresponsible and hostile behavior".

Those steps appeared to be taking shape Monday, with foreign ministry undersecretary Hussein Al-Amin Al-Fadil telling a press conference in Port Sudan that "measures against Kenya are escalating, and there are arrangements for economic measures, including a ban on importing Kenyan products".

He also said Sudan was in the process of withdrawing its ambassador from Nairobi and would file a complaint against Kenya through regional and international channels.

Among the signatories of the charter was a faction of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, which controls parts of the southern states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile.

The United Nations warned that the signing of the charter would "increase the fragmentation" of the war-torn country.

But in a post on X on Sunday, Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi called the charter "a peace agreement", describing the proposed administration as a "a unity government" that would restore "peace, stability, and democratic governance in Sudan".

In its statement, Khartoum accused Nairobi of creating a "false facade for the militia to directly obtain weapons", while "relieving regional sponsors of some embarrassment".

The foreign ministry said that this "would expand the scope of war and prolong its duration" and warned of potential damage to bilateral ties with Kenya.

Fadil said Monday that Kenyan President William Ruto "has known personal interests with the militia leader and its sponsors, and is betting on losing cards".

Saturday's signing of the charter comes as the army and its allied factions are making advances against the RSF in the capital Khartoum and in central Sudan.

The war in Sudan, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives, erupted after a rift emerged between Burhan and Daglo over the future structure of the government.

The war has triggered the world's largest displacement and hunger crisis.

Both warring sides face accusations of committing grave atrocities against civilians, with their leaders sanctioned by the US.