Hamas nabs Gaza kidnappers’ rep

Advertisement

Hamas militiamen detained a member of a shadowy Palestinian terrorist group involved in kidnapping foreigners.Hitab Makdasi, described by Palestinians as a spokesman for the Army of Islam group in the Gaza Strip, was taken into custody Monday by Hamas.The Army of Islam claimed responsibility for kidnapping BBC correspondent Alan Johnston in March and was involved in the cross-border raid in June 2006 in which Gilad Shalit, an Israeli army conscript, was abducted.Since it seized control of Gaza last month, Hamas has been under intense foreign pressure to secure Johnston’s release. It is unclear who is holding Shalit, however, as Hamas gunmen cooperated with the Army of Islam in the soldier’s capture.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement