Palestinian and Sunni, Hamas legislators say they are wary of further dependency on Iran and reject Al Qaeda.

The Israeli attacks followed an airstrike on Sunday night that hit the home of a Hamas legislator, Khalil al-Hayya, who was not there.

A military court ruled on Sept. 12 that 18 of the Hamas legislators should be freed.

Now she is one of the six women who are Hamas legislators, elected on the party list.

Ms. Shanty, one of the new Hamas legislators, begged to differ.

Of 47 Hamas legislators from the West Bank and east Jerusalem, 20 are currently in jail, the movement said.

Western countries cut off assistance, Israel has arrested dozens of Hamas legislators and cabinet ministers, and unpaid Palestinian government workers have gone on strike.

"We are not afraid of a referendum," said a Hamas legislator, Salah Bardawil.

Mr. Abbas would then be able to work through the court to veto laws passed by Hamas legislators, according to Hamas.

The court ruling covered the Hamas legislators being held in the southern part of the West Bank.