Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations    

    RAMALLAH, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Hamas interior ministry on Saturday released ten senior Fatah leaders it arrested in Gaza Strip in response to the detentions of a number of Hamas people bypro-Fatah security forces in West Bank.

    In a statement sent to media, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the release "followed Egyptian and local mediations." The spokesman also called on the West Bank security forces, loyal to president Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, to free about 200 Hamas people they detained recently.

    On Friday, Abbas ordered the release of Hamas leaders and supporters who were arrested, but Abu Zuhri said only four were freed. "We call on every side to put pressure on Ramallah authority to stop the political detentions and free the political prisoners," said Abu Zuhri.

    Among the detainees released by Hamas today was Ibrahim Abu al-Najja, a senior Fatah political leader. However, Zakareya al-Agha, Fatah representative in Gaza and a member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), is still held.

    Hamas-controlled security forces in Gaza, and the West Bank Fatah-dominated security services, exchange detentions each other.

    In Gaza, Hamas launched a crackdown against Fatah following a beachside blast on July 25 in which a girl and five Hamas militants were killed. Hamas accused Fatah of being behind the explosion.

    The pro-Fatah forces in West Bank arrested tens of Hamas people in response to Gaza crackdown.

    In June Last year, Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and ousted the long-dominant Fatah. It consolidated its rule in Gaza as Abbas formed a western-backed government based in West Bank.