Interesting article here. How many people here thought it was Hamas who kidnapped an Israeli soldier last year and a BBC reporter earlier this year? I have to admit that I thought so. That is what all the news reports here in the US said. Apparently it was not Hamas, but a rival extremist group called the "Army of Islam" that is actually an enemy of Hamas. Here is an article in a British newspaper explaining it all, including some recent developments....



Hamas arrest Johnston kidnap spokesman

Hamas has arrested the spokeman of the Palistinian militants believed to be holding BBC reporter Alan Johnston.

The interior ministry in Gaza City, which is under Hamas control, declared that its self-declared Executive Force police had arrested "certain individuals implicated in the kidnapping of British journalist Alan Johnston".

Spokesman Abu Khatab al-Maqdisi was arrested as he was leaving early morning prayers.

Hamas has demanded that the Army of Islam, led by one of Gaza's most violent clans, free Mr Johnston, who was kidnapped in Gaza on March 12.

But the Army of Islam, which has previously demanded the release of a radical Muslim cleric held in Britain, kidnapped 10 Hamas members in retaliation.

In a statement posted on militant web sites, the Army of Islam also threatened to release documents suggesting misconduct among Hamas members. "We will release some documents that reveal the truth about some personalities who have tricked the Muslim community," the statement said.

Mr Johnston has been held far longer than any Western journalist abducted in Gaza. Hamas has said it knows where to find the reporter, but has not raided the hideout for fear of harming him.

Last week, the Army of Islam posted a video message from Johnston on a militant website in which he said he was dressed in an explosive belt that his captors would detonate if there was an attempt to free him.

The tit-for-tat arrest and kidnappings reflect new tensions between Hamas and the Army of Islam, which was also involved in the capture of Israeli soldier Cpl Gilad Shalit more than a year ago.

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