By Xinhua
Gaza : Israel has dug tunnels under the Gaza Strip in order to kidnap senior Hamas leaders, Hamas Interior Minister Said Siam told the London-based Arabic newspaper al-Sharqal-Awsat.
In an interview published Thursday, Siam said Israeli internal security has been acting through local agents across the strip to purchase apartments which could be used as bases of operations for such kidnappings.
According to Siam, the Hamas-controlled security forces in Gaza recently arrested two Palestinians, father and son, who are suspected of collaborating with the Israeli internal security.
The two were arrested after they bought an apartment located close to the house in Gaza City of a Hamas military wing commander, said Siam.
Turning his attention to Hamas’ ties with the international community, Siam told the newspaper that the movement has seen an ongoing improvement in its relations with European countries.
Hamas wrestled control of the Gaza Strip in mid June last year following weeks of armed confrontations with rival Fatah movement loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.
The United States and Europe, which lists Hamas movement among international terrorist groups, imposed an embargo on the movement after it defeated Fatah movement in the January 2006 legislative elections.
Referring to Egypt’s recent warning to Hamas not to attempt to breach the Egypt-Gaza border again, Siam said “Egypt treats us as if we are a wing of the Muslim Brotherhood rather than a national liberation Palestinian movement.”
“Why is there so much sensitivity surrounding our relations with Iran, which is a Muslim state, while there is no sensitivity about the alliance of other elements with Israel and the U.S.?” asked Siam.