Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations    

    RAMALLAH, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Militants belong to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement held on Saturday a senior Hamas leader as a hostage in the West Bank city of Nablus.

    The militants, who belong to Fatah's armed wing, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, said that Mohamed Ghazzal would be killed within the coming a few hours if Hamas security forces don't stop its raid on a pro-Fatah clan in Gaza City.

    Ghazzal, who was arrested by Abbas security forces four days ago, was released together with three other Hamas leaders in the West Bank on Friday after President Abbas ordered to free all Hamas leaders who were recently detained.

    However, Ghazzal spoke on telephone with the Qatari al-Jazeera satellite news channel, saying that he is still held as a hostage and called on Hamas security forces to stop its campaign in Sheja'eya neighborhood against Helles caln in Gaza City.

    Right after he was released on Friday, Ghazzal had told reporters that most of those detained in the West Bank by Abbas' security forces are not affiliated with Hamas movement.

    Tension between the two rival movements, Fatah and Hamas, has mounted since a bombing attack last week carried out by militants against a Hamas militants' car on Gaza beachside, killing a little girl and five Hamas militants.

    Following the bombing attack, Hamas security forces cracked down on Fatah movement and rounded up more than 200 people, including senior Fatah leaders and governors of Gaza Strip towns and cities.

    In response to Hamas arrests in Gaza, Abbas security forces rounded up Hamas leaders and members, including activists, politicians and academics.

    Efforts are exerted by Egypt and other Palestinian political factions, including the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement to stop the mutual escalations between the two movements and prepare the ground for dialogue.