Palestinian police arrest Hamas members

Palestinian police have arrested members of radical groups Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, officials said.

Among those arrested was Mohammed Shihab, a Hamas leader in Jebaliya refugee camp and Jamal Saleh, the head of an Islamic group that supports Hamas. Hamas condemned the arrests.

"It comes at a time when the occupation government practices brutal aggression against our people, these arrests will harm Palestinian national unity," said Ismail Abu Shanab, a Hamas spokesman.

Police scoured areas of Gaza City and nearby Jebaliya, rounding up militants.

Orders had been issued for members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad to report to Palestinian police stations, but most have refused. Several leading members have gone into hiding to evade authorities.

The Palestinian Authority has been criticised for not doing enough to rein in and apprehend militants planning attacks against Israel.

"The Palestinian Authority will take every step needed to protect the Palestinian national interest and to stop any act that will violate the leadership's orders and commitments," a Palestinian security official said.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas are responsible for most suicide attacks against Israeli citizens.

The Palestinian Authority has repeatedly condemned the operations but has said in the past that it was unable to carry out arrests because its police forces were badly hit by Israeli air strikes and arrests.

Hamas recently criticised the Palestinian Authority for condemning its operations and has vowed to continue staging attacks against Israeli targets while Israel's presence in the Palestinian areas continued.