Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces on Friday scuffled with Hamas supporters and broke up a protest in Hevron, witnesses and police said, according to AFP.

The protest had been planned in support of the terrorist organization on the anniversary of its founding.

Videos disseminated on social media showed the PA security forces using batons against both male and female demonstrators in Hevron.

In Shechem (Nablus), protesters from other factions clashed with Hamas demonstrators after they raised its flag, witnesses said, according to AFP.

Adnan al-Damiri, spokesman for the PA police, confirmed the forces prevented a pro-Hamas protest in Hevron.

The protest, he said, was initially called to demonstrate against Israel, but “Hamas... demonstrated against the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its security services in the city center and not against the occupation."

Hamas and PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah faction have been at odds since 2007, when Hamas violently took over Gaza from Fatah in a bloody coup.

Fatah and Hamas signed a reconciliation deal last October, under which the PA was to have resumed full control of Gaza by December 1.

That deadline was initially put back by 10 days and had later reportedly hit “obstacles”. It has never been implemented and is one of many attempts that have failed over the years to ease the tensions between the two groups.

Despite the crackdown on Hamas on Friday, Fatah just this week praised Hamas terrorists who were eliminated by the IDF.

The Twitter account of the movement published Thursday morning pictures of two terrorists who were eliminated with the inscription "The heroic martyr" on each of them.

"The heroic fallen of the homeland, in their pure blood, are sketching the map of our homeland. For a free and Arab Palestine. Honor and glory to you."

(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)