The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) - which controls the Gaza Strip - denied the existence of political detainees in its prisons, hours after Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyah demanded the release of 80 political detainees in the Strip.

The Ministry of Interior - which is run by Hamas in Gaza - said that all of its prisoners were "arrested or sentenced on the background of criminal or security cases related to harming the resistance, all of which are being examined before the Palestinian judiciary."

However, it added that it was undertaking legal treatment of a number of these issues in implementation of the Palestinian national consensus, and as a contribution to enhancing the atmosphere of public freedoms.

Shtayyeh had stated - during the weekly government meeting in Ramallah - that the number of political detainees in the Gaza Strip was more than 80, and demanded Hamas to release them.

He stressed that the security forces affiliated with the authority in the West Bank do not have "any political detainee, opinion holder, or political affiliation."

"The freedoms are safeguarded according to the Basic Law of the Palestinian Authority," the prime minister said, adding, "The government is using all capabilities to make the democratic wedding a success, which will take place on foundations of freedom, political pluralism, and national partnership."

On Saturday, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on promoting public freedoms, which included a call for "the release of detainees, detainees, detainees, and prisoners on the grounds of opinion, political affiliation, or partisan or factional reasons in the territories of the State of Palestine."

This decree came as the Palestinians prepare, on May 22nd, to hold their first general elections in 15 years.

In mid-January, Abbas issued a decree setting the dates for the elections, which are the legislative elections on May 22, the presidential elections on July 31, and the National Assembly on August 31.