Israeli special forces nabbed late Friday a senior commander in the Hamas security forces in the southern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian movement said on Saturday. Mohawah Al Qadi, a senior member of Hamas’ armed wing and a commander in its paramilitary Executive Force, was abducted by undercover forces in the town of Rafah in southern Gaza Strip.
“A special Zionist force wearing Executive Force uniform entered George street in eastern Rafah in a civilian Subaru car and then headed towards the Sufa crossing” with Israel, Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine Al Qassam Brigades, said in a statement.
Al Qadi, captured together with his aide Saqer Abd Al Al, was “responsible for the Executive Force public relations,” the group said.
Clashes
The Israeli raid came hours after Hamas security forces armed with rifles and clubs beat Fatah supporters trying to hold street prayers to protest the Islamic movement's rule in Gaza, witnesses said. At least 20 people were injured in clashes across the Strip. Hamas men also accosted at least seven journalists and arrested three, witnesses and reporters said.
Earlier this week, Hamas banned all public prayers after Fatah supporters began holding worship sessions that quickly escalated into raucous protests against Hamas rule.
In Gaza City, Hamas forces scuffled with Fatah worshippers after trying to force them off a main square and to a nearby mosque, witnesses said. At least one man was dragged to a Hamas jeep and beaten by several security men, the witnesses said.
