Hamas gunmen; ready to use force
Photo: AP
Alan Johnston; kidnapped in March
Photo: AP
Hamas vows to wipe out Army of Islam
Day after kidnapping of al-Qaeda operative, spiritual leader of group holding BBC reporter, Hamas spokesman says party responsible for protecting residents of Gaza, will not tolerate illegal organizations
"Hamas has a comprehensive plan to wipe out the phenomenon called the Army of Islam," Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said on Tuesday.
Threats
Yaakov Lappin
Al-Qaeda group which kidnapped BBC reporter says it has been threatened by Hamas
Barhoum condemned the organization, which has been holding BBC journalist Alan Johnston captive in Gaza for over three months, saying it harmed the image of the Palestinian people by kidnapping foreigners and Palestinians.
Violence between Hamas and the Army of Islam has been developing in the Gaza Strip, as Hamas kidnapped Khitab al-Maqdasi, al-Qaeda's spokesman in the Strip, and the Army of Islam's spiritual leader Mumtaz Dughmush on Monday.
"Dealing with this organization will be a message to all illegal organizations and clans that feel they are above the law," a Hamas source told Ynet, adding that they would eliminate this phenomenon even if it meant endangering Johnston's life.
"It is Hamas' responsibility to provide security fort the residents of the Strip and we are determined to solve the Johnston case. The organization is better off releasing him, but if it doesn't, we will do it by force, so that other bodies learn the lesson," the source said.
The Army of Islam warned Hamas against any attempt to free the journalist by force, saying it would respond with force to any attempt to harm its men or forcibly enter the area where Hamas believes the British reporter is being held.
