Al Qaida bombs hit Gaza cell phone stores, beauty salons
GAZA CITY — Al Qaida elements aligned with the opposition Fatah
movement have renewed their bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Al Qaida-aligned groups have claimed responsibility for 70 bombings of
Internet cafes, cellphone stores and other symbols of modernization in 2006
and early 2007. The campaign was disrupted by the Hamas takeover of the Gaza
Strip in June 2007.
After a lull of several months, Palestinian sources said, Al Qaida has
resumed bombings of Internet cafes and cellular phone stores. They said the
campaign was being conducted with the help of the opposition Fatah movement.
"The aim is to destabilize the Hamas regime," a security source said.
On Monday, an explosion ripped through a restaurant in Gaza City. The
bomb was placed in the front of the restaurant before opening and nobody was
injured.
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The sources said the restaurant was used by university students in Gaza
City. The restaurant and nearby buildings were damaged.
But over the last month, the sources said, the bombing campaign has
resumed. The latest targets have included Internet cafes, beauty salons and
tobacco stores.
