• Published 01:22 31.12.09
  • Latest update 03:26 31.12.09

Hamas: We foiled Israeli attempt to locate Gilad Shalit

Hamas says Israel has tried to gather intelligence through members of the rival Fatah organization in Gaza.

By Avi Issacharoff Tags: Gilad Shalit Shin Bet Hamas Israel news

The internal security apparatus of Hamas claims to have foiled an Israeli attempt to collect intelligence on where kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit is being kept. According to the head of Hamas' internal security service, Abu Abdullah, the Shin Bet security service has tried gathering intelligence through members of the rival Fatah organization who have operated in the Gaza Strip in the past.

The report appears to be mostly an attempt to smear the Palestinian Authority and its activities. Abu Abdullah said in an interview to a Web site affiliated with Hamas, Falastin Alan, that the Fatah operatives hired a house and cars in the eastern part of Gaza City and planned to kidnap a senior figure in the military wing of Hamas and bring him to Israel. He did not specify when the operation was to take place.

Meanwhile, the Hamas Web site reported that the negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit have met with Israel's refusal to release four "senior" prisoners. The four are: Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, secretary general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmed Sa'adat, and two of the heads of Hamas' military wing in the West Bank, Ibrahim Hamad and Abdullah Barghouti, who are responsible for the murders of dozens of Israelis in suicide bombings.

On the other hand, a member of the Hamas politburo, Izzat al-Rishq, stressed in an interview to the Arabic language TV station Al-Jazeera that the Islamist Palestinian group is continuing consultations on the proposal relayed to it by the German mediator.

Rishq rejected the report Tuesday by TV station Al-Arabiya that Hamas had turned down the proposal.

The Hamas official refused to offer details on the substance of the proposal from Israel or comment on problems that Hamas may have with it.

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  • 11. 0 0
    #.10. Mark of Lewiston. The US does not avenge.?
    • Stephen
    • 01.01.10
    • 12:52

    The US does not avenge.? Really Mark.? Even ex president Clinton sent missiles into Sudan and Afghanistan on "Avenge" attacks, Then came GWB to "Avenge" family and honor in Iraq. Followed by another invasion in Afghanistan, both by the way to "Avenge" 9/11. Now that 7 CIA officials have been killed in the worst loss for the Agency, there is open talk by Panetta of "Avenging" their deaths. Avenging is the US way.

  • 10. 0 0
    7 ben Zalman - What would US trade?
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 31.12.09
    • 09:52

    Likely nothing. The US would make some noise and then I'd die, or my family or business associates would pay or not, depending on the demands and ability. That's an understood. The US doesn't avenge. Israel plays politics.

  • 9. 0 0
    AGREE with #2
    • Oren
    • 31.12.09
    • 09:39

    If Israel was bit smarter, they would call an international Media conference to announce that Hamas is not willing to let 1000 of its people free and that Israel will help the people in Gaza over throw Hamas.

  • 8. 0 0
  • 7. 0 0
    psy ops, and to #4 Mark
    • ben Zalman
    • 31.12.09
    • 07:09

    Its just psychological warfare. Israel knows where he is but his cell is likely booby-trapped. You call 1000 prisoners for a single Israeli getting off cheap? You must either hold the value of a Jew as very high or Arab value as very low. Either way Israel shows its love for each Jew and is pained at the decision it has to make. As for you, What would your country trade if you were captured? Ya, I didnt think so, talk about getting off cheap. What a worthless dispicable excuse for a man you appear to be. Maybe your just confused.

  • 6. 0 0
    To Mark of Lewiston
    • David LG
    • 31.12.09
    • 06:35

    As usual your sympathies are with pure evil. Don't forget who took Shalit from Israeli soil. Israel wants to get off cheap. Israel is willing to give up many more prisoners than Shalit. How is that getting off cheap? It's Hamas that is evil. Israel considers the importance of getting Shalit and balances that against letting murders go free. But according to you Hamas are just wonderful.

  • 5. 0 0
    hamas &Fatah
    • Jochai Rubinstein
    • 31.12.09
    • 05:58

    More Hamas propaganda against Fatah, meant to prepare The next Massacre after the 2001 takeover and Cast Lead

  • 4. 0 0
    Does It Matter?
    • Mark of Lewiston
    • 31.12.09
    • 05:50

    Whether Israel knows and cannot rescue Shalit or doesn't know where he is, does it matter? Israel's government wants off cheap and Hamas doesn't agree. Negotiations continue. Hamas may lie, but the Israeli government hasn't told a truth in months about Shalit, except maybe that nobody is close to agreement.

  • 3. 0 0
    hamas known for lies
    • Michelle Wayne
    • 31.12.09
    • 04:52

  • 2. 0 0
    Upped the ante
    • idf_sergeant
    • 31.12.09
    • 04:06

    The original 'Army of Islam'/HAMAS demand in 2006 was for 1000 women and youths. That has now morphed beyond recognition to the TOP LEADERSHIP of the Jihadists. Israel should come back with a counter-offer: 1 single Palestinian prisoner for our 1 IDF Corporal.

  • 1. 0 0
    Earth to Hamas
    • Born In The USA
    • 31.12.09
    • 03:45

    Israeli intelligence knows EXACTLY where Shalit is located. Unfortunately, the bunker is so heavily booby-trapped that the odds of a successful live rescue are too low to justify any attempt - for now.