Top Hamas leader arrested by Palestinian government
Palestine, Local, 4/9/1998

Top Hamas leader arrested by the Palestinian government on Thursday evening arrested Dr. Abdul Aziz Rantisi, a leading Hamas spokesman in Gaza. His arrest followed a series of statements he made over the past few days in which he hinted that the Palestinian government was responsible for the mysterious death of Hamas bomb maker Mohyiddin Sharif.

Rantisi's arrest is expected to stir more tension in relations between the Palestinian government and Hamas. The two sides have exchanged accusations of responsibility and involvement in the Sharif killing. The Palestinian government, through senior security officers, insisted that fellow members of Hamas killed Sharif after he was suspected of becoming an agent for the Israeli Shin Bet.

Relatives of Ghassan Adassi, a Hamas member currently in Palestinian custody, claimed they were interrogated and even beaten by leading Palestinian officials. Ghassan's bother said Palestinain presidential secretary Tayyeb Abdul Rahim and Palestinian security forces commander in the West Bank, Major General Ismail Jaber were the ones who beat him on the face in the course of interrogation. The family said they believed the confession of Ghassan Adassi was taken by force. Adassi reportedly told his Palestinian interrogators that Adel Awadallah, another top Hamas member who is currently wanted, shot Sharif dead.

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