Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations
    GAZA, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- A leader of the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement said on Monday his movement is ready to mediate between feuding Fatah and Hamas movements to soften the tense atmosphere between them.

    "The only winner of such fighting between Fatah and Hamas is the Zionist enemy," said Nafez Azzam, a senior Islamic Jihad leader in Gaza, who expressed his group's readiness to play a roleto mediate between the two rival groups.

    "We are ready to play a role and help in convincing the two parties to release the prisoners each had arrested recently. All prisoners in Gaza and the West Bank must be released," said Azzam.

    Since July 25 bombing attack on a Hamas militants' car that killed five Hamas militants in western Gaza City, Hamas began to crack down on Fatah movement. In response, Fatah clamped down on Hamas in the West Bank.

    Hamas arrested more than 200 Fatah members following the bombing attack, while security forces in the West Bank loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas arrested around 200 Hamas members, including academics and politicians.

    Azzam said the exchange of prisoners and their release "would help to a great extent to end the status of hatred between the two groups and prepare the atmosphere for holding a comprehensive dialogue."

    The Islamic Jihad is a small Islamic armed group that rejects Israel's presence and calls for the liberation of all the occupied territories by arms instead of peace negotiations. The group also rejects joining the parliament and the government.