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Attempted Coup Splits Hamas Military Forces

[Ha'aretz ] The Hamas military wing, Iz al-Din al-Qassam, has split into two groups after an attempt to replace its military commander, Ahmed Al-Jabari, with Imad Akal. Mohammed Deif, the former head of Iz al-Din al-Qassam, was behind the attempt, according to Palestinian sources. There are now two camps: one led by Al-Jabari and the other by Akal. There have been long-standing disagreements between Al-Jabari and the political leadership of Hamas in Gaza. The tension exploded when Hamas police attempted to arrest members of the military group who were suspected of criminal activities. The Hamas militants resisted arrest, and the police and Iz al-Din al-Qassam members exchanged fire. According to the sources, Iz al-Din al-Qassam is divided, and there have been several attempts by commanders to kill their rivals to ensure they control an area or the organization's assets. In Khan Yunis, for example, for over a year there have been three local commanders, each of whom considers himself the chief in the region. In addition, senior Iz al-Din commanders have become more involved in criminal activities, particularly smuggling, which they control exclusively.
2008-06-25 01:00:00
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