Hamas denies al-Qaida militants entering Egypt from Gaza
Report by Xinhua via People's Daily Online 12:23, January 30, 2010:
Deposed Prime Minister of Hamas government in the Gaza Strip Ismail Haneya denied on Friday that extremist militants affiliated to al-Qaida had entered Egypt through the Gaza Strip.
During Friday's prayers in a refugee camp mosque in northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalia, Haneya denied reports published on Thursday that some members of al-Qaida had entered Egypt from the Gaza Strip.
"Such reports are full of lies," Haneya said, adding that "the Islamic movements in Gaza are moderate movements and we don't have any other radical or fanatic Islamic groups as it was published."
However, Haneya did not deny that some young men in Gaza began to believe in extremism and fanatic thoughts, adding "but we had treated this phenomena through meetings and dialogues."
Gaza-based news websites quoted Arab media reports as saying that Egypt decided to build a barrier along its borders with the Gaza Strip after extremists linked to al-Qaida entered Egypt from Gaza.
"I doubt that such kind of danger exists as the reports said," Haneya said, "the aim of publishing such reports is to destroy the good ties between Hamas and Egypt, but I tell them our enemy is not Egypt, it is Israel."
On Sunday, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak defended the building of the barrier along the border with the Gaza Strip, saying it is necessary for the country's security.
Source: Xinhua
