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Israel cracks down on Hamas West Bank charities

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-09 20:32

RAMALLAH  -- Israeli army Wednesday continued its crackdown operations against West Bank civil associations and charities allegedly linked with Islamic Hamas movement.

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Early in the morning, about 40 Israeli army vehicles stormed West Bank city of Nablus and the soldiers broke into the municipality building and closed it.

They also closed a center for memorizing the Muslim's holy book of Quran. Witnesses said that the soldier posted an order shutting the Quran House Society for two years after confiscating computers and documents from the center.

The crackdown started in Nablus on Monday when the Israeli forces entered the city and shut down four charities, saying they are affiliated with Hamas.

On Tuesday, the Israeli forces also closed a shopping mall in Nablus and moved its property to the army.

Ahead of the campaign, an Israeli newspaper reported that the army will step up its measures to destroy Hamas' civil infrastructure in the West Bank.

The West Bank is controlled by security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. A western-backed government headed by Salam Fayyad rules in the territory.

Abbas formed the Fayyad-led government after his forces lost Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007.

Meanwhile, Hamas slammed the Israeli actions against its associations in the West Bank. "The Israeli occupation aims at undermining the Palestinian people's firmness and endurance," spokesman Fawzi Barhoom said.

The closing of Hamas charities comes as the Islamic movement is observing an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip.