Interior Ministry of the deposed Hamas administration on Wednesday denied a claim by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that fighters related to al-Qaida had infiltrated into the Gaza Strip.
In a statement sent to the press, the ministry said Abbas' claim that al-Qaida exists in Gaza was "meant to give Israel pretext and cover to target the civilian residents" in the Hamas-ruled Gaza.
During an interview with the London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat, President Abbas said operatives from the terrorist organizations including al-Qaida entered the Gaza Strip and was receiving assistance from Hamas.
"Abbas' statements come under the media campaign he leads to encourage the Israeli occupation to strike the Gaza Strip and tightening the siege there," the statement said.
It noted that Abbas made the claim on the basis of the information he received from the Israeli and the American intelligence, which aims at shaking the security in the Hamas-run Gaza.
Hamas routed security forces loyal to President Abbas and thus seized control of Gaza in June, 2007.
In the wake of the "Gaza coup," defined by Abbas, Israel imposed a strict blockade on Gaza.
In an effort to breach the siege, Hamas militants blew holes in the border wall separating Gaza and Egypt in January, allowing the Palestinians to pour into Egypt's Sinai Peninsular to purchase the daily needs during a period of 11 days.
Suspicions were aroused later that some terrorists might infiltrate Gaza by taking the chance of the border tumult.
Source: Xinhua
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