[Times-UK] James Hider and Paul Martin - Johnston's sudden release came after Hamas had tightened the siege around the Army of Islam compound. On Tuesday, hundreds of Hamas fighters threw a tight cordon around the area of Gaza City where Johnston was being held. Abu Subhi, a member of the Hamas Executive Force, said, "We have decided to cut the electricity and water and there are roadblocks all around." Hamas fighters knelt in firing positions on street corners while pickup trucks full of armed and uniformed enforcers sped through the streets, sirens wailing. An entire brigade of Executive Force gunmen surrounded the area, checking identity papers and arresting anyone associated with the Army of Islam.
2007-07-04 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive