Hamas security forces released 35 Fatah members from prison on Sunday as a goodwill gesture to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Fitr, a Hamas official said.

Mohammad Al Qidwa, who was governor of the Gaza, was among those freed. He had been in detention for three months.

Hamas describes Fatah men in its custody as common criminals and largely denies it carries out politically motivated arrests.

Fatah has said Hamas has arrested several hundred of its men in the Gaza Strip since the takeover and at least 150 are still in jail.