Hamas leaders running scared, report assassination warnings
Thursday, February 21, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
LONDON — Hamas has sounded the alert of an Israeli campaign to assassinate the group's leadership.
Hamas officials said at least three leaders of Hamas have been threatened with assassination over the last few months, Middle East Newsline reported. The officials cited Hamas political bureau chief Khaled Masha'al, his deputy, Mussa Abu Marzouk, and Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.
"We have evidence that several Arab countries are participating in this plot and have been providing information to Israel and the Americans," a Hamas official said.
On Feb. 17, Hamas adviser Ahmed Yusef said unspecified Arab states were tracking Abu Marzouk and Masha'al and informing Israel. Yusef said Masha'al, based in the Syrian capital of Damascus, recently escaped an assassination attempt.
Yusef said Israel has also been tracking Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip. He said Hamas has ordered senior operatives to halt their use of cellular phones to avoid Israeli assassination.
At the same time, the Hamas newspaper Al Resalah reported that Haniyeh has received warnings from Egypt to maintain a low profile. Al Resalah said Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Omar Suleiman told Haniyeh of an Israeli plot to kill the prime minister.
As a result, Haniyeh has refused to appear in public. Officials said the prime minister has not reported to work and avoids staying for more than a few minutes in mosque in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City.
Palestinian sources said Haniyeh was also being threatened by pro-Iranian elements in the Hamas regime. The sources said former Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar has sought to succeed Haniyeh as prime minister.