"A bomb was found in the area, and it was pointed towards Abu An-Naja
home," a Hamas official said. "The attackers planned to detonate the bomb by
a cell phone."
The sources said Hamas military commander Ahmed Jaabari has become one
of the most powerful figures in the Gaza Strip. They said Jaabari, formally
commander of Kassam units in Gaza City, has been visiting government and
police agencies and announcing decisions.
In July 2008, the sources said, Jaabari forced his way into a meeting of
the civilian police command. The sources said Jaabari said police commanders
were not fulfilling regime expectations and ordered several of them
replaced.
"Within a week, all of the commanders that Jaabari wanted out, were
assigned to other duties," the source said.
The sources said Jaabari and other military commanders have been
empowered by Hamas headquarters in Syria. They said the military controlled
the government by force as well as blocking the flow of funds and goods into
the Gaza Strip from neighboringn Egypt.
Izzedin Kassam approved the Hamas ceasefire with Israel in June 2008.
The sources said Kassam, without government input, also decided to attack
the Hilles clan and crack down on Fatah in August 2008.
The military's control of Hamas was also said to have been seen in
elections for Hamas's Shura Council and Administration Association in July
2008. For the first time, the sources said, military commanders were elected
to the Shura Council as well as the political bureau.
"There has been a change in the decision-making bodies and those who
oppose reconciliation [with Fatah] have become stronger," another
Palestinian source said.
