"It seems as if there are elements who
want to disturb Gaza’s security and are targeting foreigners to
intimidate them and give a bad image of Gaza"
ISIL tied to bombing of French Cultural Center in Gaza City
GAZA CITY — Islamic State of Iraq and Levant was said to have resumed attacks in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
ISIL has been blamed for another bombing of the French Cultural
Center in Gaza City. On late Dec. 12, the center was struck by the
second bombing in nearly as many months amid the ISIL war in Iraq and
Syria. A Palestinian was said to have been injured.
"It seems as if there are elements who want to disturb Gaza’s
security and are targeting foreigners to intimidate them and give a bad
image of Gaza," Gaza police spokesman Ayman Betjeni said.
[On late Dec. 14, the Palestinian leadership, in wake of previous
reports of a suspension, decided to continue Palestinian Authority
security cooperation with Israel. At the same time, the leadership said
it would maintain “resistance activities” against Israel.]
Palestinian sources said ISIL has established a sleeper and
operational presence in the Gaza Strip. They said the latest bombing,
which damaged a wall in the French compound, reflected a campaign
against members of the U.S.-led war against ISIL.
Hamas has not acknowledged the ISIL presence. The ruling movement condemned the attack on the French center.
"The side responsible for such a criminal action does not belong to
Palestinians as culture is a major part of the Palestinian identity,"
the Palestinian Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Dec. 13.
No comments:
Post a Comment