Report: Hamas detained rocket cell

Radical Gaza organization says Hamas security officers arrested two group members

Elior Levy|Published: 08.06.11 , 18:32

Hamas security forces detained Saturday morning two members of the al-Tawhid wal-Jihad group in Gaza as they were about to fire rockets at Israel, members of the radical organization charged in a leaflet.

Receive Ynetnews updates directly to your desktop

"Forces belonging to Ismail Haniyeh's government in the northern Gaza Strip detained this morning, at 8:23, two fighters from a cell loading missiles against the enemy," the announcement said.

According to al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, Israel Air Force drones were hovering above the area at the time of the arrest. Other cell members managed to flee the scene, the group said.

Following the arrest, the Jihadist group slammed Hamas' security forces, stressing that the "grave" arrest caused unprecedented harm while the terrorists were working "in the service of the homeland against Israel's tyranny."

"Our arms are only directed at the Zionists and atno one else," the group said. "We urge police officers to disregard government decisions and refrain from arresting fighters."

Palestinian sources say that recent rocket attacks on Israel were the work of Salafi groups in the Strip such as al-Tawhid wal-Jihad, which reject Hamas' authority in Gaza. However, Israel struck training camps belonging to Hamas' military wing this week in order to signal to the group that it's responsible for any attack on Israel, even if Hamas is not directly behind it.