Off-duty Palestinian Authority policemen in the Gaza Strip reportedly kidnapped a member of Hamas on Sunday evening that they blamed for the death of their colleague. In response, Hamas officials threatened to use violence if the man was not freed immediately.
The abduction occurred when gunmen in Gaza City forced the unidentified Hamas member into a car and sped away. The man was then brought to a police station where the abductors demanded that he be tried by the PA.
Hamas announced that the PA had four hours to free the man before they would be required to forcibly secure his release.
The incident was the result of the death of a PA policeman several months in clashes between Palestinian security forces and Hamas, according to Ynet.
Clashes between the two erupted after the PA banned the practice of carrying weapons at rallies by Hamas members.
Passengers of vehicle carrying Hamas members reportedly refused to allow policemen to check the car for weapons, and a firefight ensued. The clashes sparked riots throughout Gaza City, in which shells were fired by Hamas at police stations, and the policeman killed.
Policemen had warned previously that if the killer was not brought to justice, they would take matters into their own hands.
