Reprisal shootings in Gaza amid accusations of spying


Now that Israel has left the Gaza strip, the reprisals have begun.  According to Fatah leaders, 175 Fatah members have ben rounded up and are being tortured by Hamas.

Hamas leadership is accusing Fatah of spying for Israel.  "In this war, we arrested many spies and collaborators, and we will stay continuing to catch these spies and put them in jail and in court," Ehad al-Ghossain, Hamas' Interior Ministry spokesman, told CNN.  "Some factions wanted to help Israel, to kill Hamas and Hamas leaders, and were giving information to the Israelis." 

The highest-ranking known casualty in the Israeli offensive may have been Hamas Interior Minister Said Siam, who was killed by an Israeli airstrike January 15.  Siam's neighbors said Fatah supporters may have pinpointed his location for Israel.  "My brother and sister saw three or four spies, including a woman," neighbor Omar Hassan said. "The spies left, and then Said Siam's apartment was hit."

Meanwhile, at Gaza's Shifa Hospital, medical officials said injuries they have seen would be consistent with suspected spies being shot in the kneecaps, elbows, hands or feet as punishment.

"We have seen severe arterial lesions at the level of the knee and at the level of the femoral artery in the thigh, and also some lesions at the level of the arm," international doctor Carlos Trotta said.

He said he has treated at least six patients, including a woman, for gunshot wounds since the cease-fire with Israel was announced.

The shootings and beatings are meant not only for reprisals and punishments; but to send a message to others.

Hamas spokesmen al-Ghossain denied reprisals are taking place but said the shootings occurred, "because renegade gunmen took the law into their own hands. And al-Ghossain said there was no official order within Hamas to carry out such shootings.

"That's not us," al-Ghossain said. "Maybe some families who had problems in the past just wanted to shoot these people."







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