We don't have an organization tab for Islamic Jihad? PityIt's a tale of two tunnels, and it augurs difficulties for the Palestinian unity agreement announced to international fanfare this month.
One tunnel was dug straight from the Gaza Strip, which is ruled by the Islamist militia Hamas, into a southern Israeli community. The Israeli army blew it up early Monday, detonating it from within Israel using as-yet unidentified "advanced technology," according to a statement made by the army.
Israelis and Gazans were awakened about 6 a.m. by massive booms as the tunnel collapsed on itself, killing eight militants, including Islamic Jihad commander Arafat abu Murshid and one of his deputies. Also among the dead were two Hamas operatives, who, according to unconfirmed Palestinian reports, arrived to aid the Islamic Jihad fighters.
Cooperation between the two extremist factions could be bad news for the future of Palestinian reunification, a process through which Hamas is projected to join Fatah, the internationally recognized ruling Palestinian party based in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
| There are seven dead and 12 injured, according to The Times of Israel, which adds: |
The Hamas-run Gazoo Health Ministry said four of the dead were Islamic Jihad members, including two senior commanders, Arafat Abu Murshad, the Islamic Jihad’s central Gazoo commander and his deputy Hassan Abu Hassanein. The other three others were named as Ahmad Khalil Abu Armana, 25, Omar Nasar al-Fallit, 27, and Jihad Abdullah al-Samiri, 32.
Two Hamas members, Musbah Shabir, 30 and Mujahid Mohammed Marwan Algha, were also killed during the rescue operation, Hamas said.