The security services of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) arrested in Gaza City, Thursday, a group of young men who participated in a meeting through the application of "Zoom" video with Israelis, describing the matter as "treason."
"The Internal Security Agency arrested Rami Aman and his co-workers in establishing a normalization activity with the Israeli occupation via the Internet," said Iyad Al-Bazm, a spokesman for the Hamas Interior Ministry in Gaza.
Al-Bazm indicated that the detainees were referred "for investigation, and legal requirements will be taken against them," noting that their arrest came "based on an arrest warrant issued by the Military Prosecution."
Aman describes himself on his Facebook page as an independent journalist and a member of a group called the Gaza Youth Committee, and the meeting - for which he was arrested last Monday - held Zoom's video conferencing application on the Internet.
A link to the conference invitation was published on the application, entitled "Interview with Gaza Activists," on the "Facebook" page.
Finally, the invitation said, "An opportunity to speak with the residents of Gaza who not only hate us, but are working tirelessly to open a channel of communication between the residents of Gaza and the Israelis." The invitation also identified Rami Aman and his group as participants.
| The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) considers contacting the occupation a crime and treachery (Al-Jazeera) |
Crime and resistance
Al-Bazm considered that establishing any activity or communicating with the Israeli occupation under any cover is a crime punishable by law, and to betray our people and their sacrifices.
He added, "The Israeli occupation does not stop using different methods to bring down Palestinian youth in solving intelligence, to harm our people and to resist it."
On the other hand, one of Aman's friends, who asked not to be named, explained that the meeting "was with a group of Israeli peace activists, in support of peace ... the Gaza Youth Committee seeks peace, and this freedom of expression is guaranteed in the law."
The Gaza Youth Committee - which was founded by Aman in 2010 - aims to communicate with Israeli peace activists with the aim of "rejecting violence and creating a common future for Palestinian-Israeli peace," according to one of its members.
It is noteworthy that Hamas prevents any meetings with the Israelis, and its security services arrest any Palestinian who participates in meetings or conferences with them.
Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, and has since fought three wars with Israel, and clashes along the common border have escalated relatively frequently.