4 engineers kidnapped in Sinai

Security forces in northern Sinai are continuing their efforts to search for four engineers from the Arab Contractors Company who were kidnapped on Tuesday from the Qasima area in central Sinai. Unidentified militants ambushed the engineers at gunpoint forcing them out of their car before taking them to an unknown mountainous area. Witnesses attributed the incident to a possible conflict between the officials of the company and the kidnappers, over transferring Qatar building materials to the Gaza Strip. The Contractors Company are authorised to deliver building materials to Gaza, and they have numerous sub-contracts with Bedouin tribes in Sinai. Some said that the kidnapping applies pressure on the company to provide an opportunity for all tribes to benefit from the delivery of Qatari construction materials to Gaza via the Rafah crossing. Security forces expect the release of the abductees soon after a reconciliation has been made among Sinai tribes.