Hamas on Wednesday warned that it would harm the Palestinian Authority if security forces continued to arrest its operatives in the West Bank.

Open gallery view Scene of a deadly terror attack in the West Bank on August 31, 2010 Credit: Tomer Appelbaum

In a harshly worded announcement, the Islamist group declared that "our patience will soon run out" and that they would not remain silent for long, Israel Radio reported.

"You know that the hands that have reached the heart of the occupier can reach you too," Hamas warned, referring to its recent attacks against Israelis in the West Bank, adding that Hamas cannot be stopped, and will strike anywhere, at any time it wishes.

The announcement came after Palestinian Authority security officials arrested six of the suspected perpetrators of two shooting attacks against Israelis last week.

Four Israelis were killed in a shooting attack last Tuesday, and two more were wounded in a similar attack the following day.

The officials said that they had arrested members of two separate cells involved in the two attacks, including two shooters and a third support man in both cases.

The officials said that they view these attacks with extreme severity and that they would do everything in their power to prevent further attacks against Israelis.

The attacks occurred on the eve of an official relaunch of U.S.-sponsored direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in Washington. The Islamist Palestinian Hamas, which claimed responsibility for both attacks, vowed to carry out more attacks unless talks ceased. The group does not feel that the Palestinian Authority, headed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, has the authority to negotiate on behalf of the Palestinian people.

