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)
TT
20

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.



At Least 1 Killed in Israeli Airstrikes on Southern Lebanon 

This pictures taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing from the site of Israeli airstrikes on the hills of the southern Lebanese village of Nabatieh on May 8, 2025. (AFP)
This pictures taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing from the site of Israeli airstrikes on the hills of the southern Lebanese village of Nabatieh on May 8, 2025. (AFP)
TT
20

At Least 1 Killed in Israeli Airstrikes on Southern Lebanon 

This pictures taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing from the site of Israeli airstrikes on the hills of the southern Lebanese village of Nabatieh on May 8, 2025. (AFP)
This pictures taken from the southern Lebanese area of Marjeyoun shows smoke billowing from the site of Israeli airstrikes on the hills of the southern Lebanese village of Nabatieh on May 8, 2025. (AFP)

A series of Israeli airstrikes Thursday in southern Lebanon killed at one person and wounded eight others, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. 

The Israeli military said it bombed infrastructure belonging to the Hezbollah group that included weapons and tunnel shafts as part of an underground network. Israel accused Hezbollah of regrouping and maintaining its infrastructure in violation of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement in November that ended its war with Hezbollah. 

Hezbollah did not immediately comment on the strikes near the southern city of Nabatieh, which came as calls mounted for the Lebanese state to disarm the group.  

Hezbollah says it will not lay down its weapons as long as Israel controls part of south Lebanon and continues striking deep inside the country. Israel still has control of five hilltop points on Lebanese territory following its ground invasion last year. 

“The government has not and will not spare any effort to expedite the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory,” Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told reporters after meeting with officials in the northeastern city of Baalbek, which was battered by the war that killed 4,000 people. 

Hezbollah says it has largely disarmed south of the Litani River, while Israel says its fighters are trying to regroup. 

Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said public institutions in the area were closed after the attacks. Families rushed to schools to take their children home. 

Since the ceasefire went into effect in November, Israeli strikes have continued. Israel has struck southern Beirut three times after two rocket attacks from southern Lebanon hit northern Israel, allegedly fired by the Palestinian Hamas group in March. 

After their previous war in 2006, Israel and Hezbollah were supposed to withdraw from southern Lebanon below the Litani River and leave it under the sole control of the Lebanese military alongside UN peacekeepers. That would eventually extend to the rest of the country, with the aim to disarm all non-state groups in Lebanon, including Hezbollah and end Israeli military presence.