Hamas and Fatah carried out tit-for-tat arrests yesterday after deadly Gaza bomb attacks fuelled tension between the Palestinian factions.

In the West Bank, security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas detained 20 Hamas activists in the city of Jenin. They netted 15 more in similar raids in Tulkarm.

A security official in Jenin said the Islamist detainees would be interrogated about arms caches and militant activities.