Since mid-December, the West Bank has been the target of an increased arrest campaign led by Israeli and Palestinian security forces against dozens of Hamas members and leaders. The campaign is ongoing, and the number of arrests has not been specified. On Dec. 12 and Dec. 16, Israel carried out wide arrests in Nablus, Tulkarm, Ramallah, al-Bireh, Hebron and Jericho that included member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Mohammad al-Natsheh, former Minister of Local Governance Issa al-Jaabari, Hamas leader Abdul Khaleq al-Natsheh, several former detainees and Shada Hasan, a student at Birzeit University.

On Dec. 14 and Dec. 16, Hamas revealed that the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces had arrested more than 40 of its members, including former detainees, university students, journalists, young activists, rights activists, traders, engineers and academics. The PA also summoned 36 Hamas members and raided and searched 24 houses, according to Palestinian activist Mostafa Jamil who disclosed the names of the Hamas members arrested by Israel and the PA in a Facebook post.

The timing of Israel’s and the PA’s simultaneous arrests of Hamas members is suspicious, as the arrests coincide with the Palestinian preparations for legislative elections scheduled in the coming months. This might deprive Hamas of participating in these elections, amid attempts at emptying the West Bank of Hamas members who might take part in the electoral campaign and intimidating any Palestinian wanting to run on its list by reminding him that the PA or Israel would arrest him if he so chooses.

Hamas leader Abdul Rahman Chedid told Al-Monitor, “The joint campaign targeting dozens of Hamas leaders and members in the West Bank carries three indications. First, it puts field pressure on Hamas to distort its positive decision to participate in the elections. Second, it prevents Hamas from celebrating its 32nd anniversary in the West Bank, which means that its electoral activities and freedoms would not be guaranteed. Third, the orchestrated arrests reflect the ongoing security coordination between Israel and the PA despite their political boycott. Their coordination no longer banks on a political track with Israel, but it is a duty the PA commits to so as to take personal and economic benefits from Israel.”