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Gaza resort that was attacked by gunmen (archive photo)
Photo: Tsafrir Avayov

Gaza tourist resort attacked in al-Qaeda’s name

Some 40 masked gunmen storm beach resort, blow up reception hall; no injuries reported. Assailants claim to be members of Osama bin Laden's terror organization, but officials say 'there no evidence indicating al-Qaeda is operating in Strip; attack linked to Fatah-Hamas struggle'

Dozens of masked gunmen claiming to be members of al-Qaeda stormed an empty beach resort and blew up a reception hall on Tuesday, saying they were sending a message to a close ally of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

 

Officials said there were no injuries and they were investigating the claim. Security officials have discounted such claims in the past, and sources in Gaza said the attack was related to the ongoing struggle between Fatah and Hamas.

 

Yousef Sari, director general of the resort, said about 40 masked gunmen raided the building.

 

The gunmen said the attack was aimed at Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan, a confidant of Abbas, the moderate Palestinian president.

 

“Tell Dahlan al-Qaeda has arrived in Gaza and his property and assets are targets,” Sari quoted the attackers as saying. Dahlan is widely rumored to own the resort, which used to be popular with Israeli tourists in the 1990s, though he denies any business connection to the place.

 

'Violent tactics aimed strictly at Israel'

Israeli officials have long warned that al-Qaeda was trying to infiltrate Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the coastal strip in 2005. Abbas also has claimed the group has established “sleeper” cells in Gaza, and al-Qaeda has issued statements claiming responsibility for several violent attacks on Palestinian officials.

 

However, Palestinian security officials say there is no evidence the group is operating in Gaza. They say the claims are usually made by local militants or crime gangs trying to divert attention.

 

The Islamic militant group Hamas, which controls most government functions, denies any connection to al-Qaeda.

 

It says its violent tactics, which have included dozens of suicide bombings, are aimed strictly at Israel, not the Western world at large.

 

On Monday evening a bomb exploded in the Gaza Strip offices of a leading Arabic-language news channel, Palestinian eyewitnesses said, causing severe property damage but no injuries.

 

It is widely believed that the Saudi-owned TV channel al-Arabiya was targeted over a report aired last week in which it was claimed that Palestinian Prime Minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh cursed God. 

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.23.07, 13:28
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