Hamas Arrests Ceasefire Violators

Israel has confirmed that Hamas arrested those responsible for mortar fire into the Gaza Belt region on Tuesday night.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu credited the IDF’s newly restored deterrent power following Operation Protective Edge, saying that the Hamas leaders did so because they know that Israel will not tolerate a “drizzle” of rocket and mortar fire from Gaza.

No details were available on the identity of the detainees, nor what Hamas plans to do with them.

The mortar was the first violation of the ceasefire with Hamas since it went into effect on August 26, and several Israeli officials called for an immediate military response Tuesday night. There were no injuries or damages in the attack, which occurred in the region between Eshkol and Sdot Negev.

Meanwhile, Hamas denied on Wednesday claims that its political bureau chief, Khaled Mashaal, was being expelled from Qatar. A Hamas spokesman dismissed it as an attempt to “sow tension and confusion.”

Reports of getting kicked out of the long-time haven came just days after seven leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood were expelled from the country, having fled an Egyptian government crackdown.

That move triggered speculation that Qatar would give the Hamas leader the same treatment, since Hamas is the Palestinian branch of the Brotherhood.

This article appeared in print on page 8 of the September 18th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.