The Qatar-based al-Jazeera reported that Hamas has decided to increase security for senior officials in Gaza to protect them from an Israeli attack prior to an agreement on a truce.
Security has also been beefed up for senior Hamas officials who live outside of the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian military sources report to al-Jazeera that Hamas intended to step up its security in order to protect its senior officials both inside the Gaza Strip and overseas.
The sources said that the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip under the leadership of Prime Minister Ismail Haniya had asked senior political officials and security officials to take extra safety precautions. Moreover, the senior officials were asked not to go to places where either their lives or the lives of civilians would be in danger.
AdSys ad not found for news/world:instory –>
According to the al-Jazeera report, Hamas’ personnel security unit in Gaza beefed up its security measures for the movement’s spokesmen in the Gaza Strip and have asked the senior Hamas officials who reside out of the Gaza Strip to be more cautious and to refrain from excessive media appearances.
Palestinian military sources said that Hamas’ precautionary measures in Gaza had been ordered in response to information that was obtained by the Hamas government about Israeli intentions to escalate its operations in the period leading up to the impending announcement of a new truce agreement with Hamas.
According to the report, Hamas anticipates that Israel will attack a number of times in the Gaza Strip prior to the general elections next Tuesday.
David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com