(Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs-Hebrew) Yoni Ben Menachem - The assassination of senior official Mazen Fuqha at close range in the heart of Gaza City on March 24 was a serious blow to the prestige of Hamas. Despite its claims, Hamas has no proof of Israeli involvement in the killing. Moreover, a Fatah website in Gaza reported that Fuqha's wife told a relative that a few days before he was killed, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar refused her husband's request to receive protection. On April 2, Israeli Defense Minister Lieberman hinted that Fuqha was killed within the framework of internal power struggles within Hamas. Even if Israel was not involved, Hamas sources expect that in the coming days, a number of collaborators with Israel will be publically taken out and executed in order to show that it succeeded in its investigation. We may even see fabricated confessions by collaborators who will say they were sent by Israel to kill Fuqha. These messages from Hamas will be aimed to cover up its security failure. The writer is a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television.
2017-04-03 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive