By Xinhua,
Gaza : Unknown gunmen attacked a resort village on Gaza beach and set it on fire early on Wednesday, witnesses and security sources said.
The sources said that the militants stormed Ebad al-Rahman tourist village, which was opened this summer, and burnt it after handcuffing three of the guards.
The group of about five gunmen escaped the place after taking three computers there, the sources added. The casualty is yet unknown.
The resort is located in northwest Gaza Strip, not far from the main headquarters of Hamas’ internal security force.
Attacks against recreational places, hairdressers, cafes and DVD and video cassette stores have increased in Gaza Strip after Hamas Islamists routed forces loyal to president Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah last year.
But Hamas accuses the secular Fatah of being behind these attacks, in a bid to shake the security which Hamas said it resorted to Gaza.
This week, Hamas interior minister Said Siam said that his forces have driven away a large pro-Fatah clan from a region known as a violence hotbed and thus ended the state of lawlessness there. The interior ministry did not comment on the latest incident that targeted the Ebad al-Rahman village.
Last month, a bomb went off prematurely as a perpetrator was planting it in front of a cafe shop, killing him and destroying the bar. Later on that day, a beachside blast killed five Hamas members and a girl. After that, Hamas launched a crackdown against Fatah, which it blamed for being behind the attack.
It is not known yet who is behind the latest attack. However, coming one day after Hamas government said it succeeded to restore security again after the blast, the timing of the attack triggered suspicions that hard-liner elements among Hamas might have carry out these attacks.