Hamas security forces arrested at least 30 members of a large Fatah clan in the Gaza Strip today, in what the Islamist group said was a raid targeting criminals but the family said was politically motivated.
Witnesses said Hamas forces made the arrests after entering a group of houses in Gaza City belonging to the Fatah-affiliated Abu Amra clan. It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured.
Hamas security officers said the raid was aimed at confiscating weapons and drugs, and had no political motivation.
Hamas Islamists seized control of the Gaza Strip on June 14th after weeks of fierce fighting with forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the secular Fatah faction.
Some Fatah members in Gaza have accused Hamas of targeting them since the fighting ended. Many of Mr Abbas's supporters have fled to the occupied West Bank where Fatah remains dominant.