Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations    

    RAMALLAH, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said on Wednesday that Palestinian security forces arrested 13 members of the Islamic movement in West Bank.

    Troops loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of rival Fatah movement detained 13 Hamas supporters in Nablus, Ramallah, Jenin, Jericho and Bethlehem, Hamas said in a statement.

    In return, Fatah accused the Islamic movement of cracking down on its members in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip over the past couple of days.

    Hamas seized control of Gaza in June after routing pro-Abbas security forces in fierce fighting. The violence has ended a short-lived national unity government between the two rival movements.

    On Monday, Hamas rejected a call by Abbas to establish a new era based on ending the movement's control on Gaza Strip. Instead, Hamas called for unconditional dialogue.