Hamas' forces on Tuesday began a military operation to release BBC's Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped on March 12, a Hamas spokesman said. Hamas' forces have begun to besiege persons in al-Sabra in Gaza for allegedly involving in the BBC reporter's abduction, Hamas Spokesman Ghazi Hamad told reporters. On Monday, Hamas forces in Gaza detained members of the Palestinian militant group of the Army of Islam, which claims to have abducted the journalist. Meanwhile, a Palestinian young man was killed here Tuesday in clashes between Hamas militants and gunmen of a family in al-Sabra accused of kidnapping Johnston.| Paleo Centre for Human Rights, call your office! |
Mazen al-Qassas, 25, was killed in clashes between members of the family and the Army of Islam group on the one hand and Hamas activists on the other hand, Palestinian medical sources and eyewitnesses.| Young man? He was 25. In Gaza, that makes you a Learned Elder. |
The clashes took place in al-Maghrabi Street, south of Gaza, where the Army of Islam is believed to have been holding Johnston for over three months. Hamas' operation, including the arrest of several suspects, was carried out as negotiations with the kidnappers of Johnston reached a deadlock. "The arrests were carried out after all negotiation attempts ... failed to free the abducted journalist," Hamas said in a statement. "The arrests are targeting figures who were involved in the abduction of the journalist," it added.
Tensions between Hamas and the Army of Islam have been growing since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas has demanded that the Army of Islam release Johnston, threatening to "use all means to secure his life and to free him". | And AI is threatening to detonate the explosives vest Mr. Johnston happens to be wearing. |
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