Hamas holds Fatah officials in Gaza

GAZA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Friday summoned and held several Fatah leaders in the Gaza Strip, officials from the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' party said.

According to a statement by Fatah movement, Hamas has summoned the Fatah activists and has been holding them for more than three hours. Among the detainees was Ibrahim Abu al-Najja, Fatah representative in the Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Faisal Abu Shahla, a Fatah lawmaker, confirmed that Hamas has summoned a number of Fatah officials Friday afternoon. "We condemn this act and Hamas should shoulder the responsibility for their well-being," he said.

The incident occurred on the fourth day of Fatah's general convention which is taking place in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Hamas has prevented some 400 Gaza-based Fatah officials from traveling to join their movement's first conference in 20 years, citing a Fatah-led crackdown against Hamas supporters in the West Bank.

On Friday, the delegates in Bethlehem said they have reached a mechanism to enable the Gaza-based members to vote in the internal elections Fatah will be holding on the last day of the conference.

Hamas and Fatah have been in a power struggle and feud since the Islamic Hamas movement routed pro-Abbas forces and seized control of Gaza in 2007.