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Palestinian Authority police cracked down on a Hamas protest in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, beating demonstrators with batons and throwing stun grenades.
Some 50 Hamas activists confronted Palestinian forces after Muslim prayers on Friday, as the Hamas group marked the anniversary day of its establishment (1987).
An Associated Press cameraman said Palestinian police brutally beat Hamas activists to disperse the protest, injuring 5 and arresting 15.
On social media sites, people posted videos showing Palestinian security forces using batons against both male and female demonstrators in Hebron.
In Nablus in the northern West Bank, protesters from other Palestinian factions clashed with Hamas demonstrators after they raised the group’s flag during a demonstration, witnesses said.
Adnan al-Damiri, spokesman for the Palestinian police, confirmed they prevented a pro-Hamas protest in Hebron, called initially to demonstrate against Israel.
“But Hamas… demonstrated against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its security services in the city center and not against the (Israeli) occupation.”