Israel: Hamas linked to Daesh assault on Egyptians

A senior Israeli officer said Thursday the militant Palestinian movement Hamas played a part in attacks by the Islamic State group on Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula.

"In the latest attacks Hamas gave support with weapons and organisation to groups supporting IS," Major General Yoav Mordechai, said in an interview in Arabic with Al-Jazeera television.

Egyptian officials said at least 70 people, mostly soldiers, were killed in Wednesday's unprecedented attacks. Dozens of jihadists also died.

"We have examples of Hamas commanders who actively took part in such support," said Mordechai, quoted in a Hebrew-language summary of the interview released by his office.

"Wael Faraj, a battalion commander in the military wing of Hamas, smuggled wounded from Sinai into the Gaza Strip," it quoted him as telling the Doha-based broadcaster.

"Abdallah Qishta, a senior Hamas military instructor, trained operatives of "the Sinai Province organisation", he added, referring to the Egyptian affiliate of IS.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas, the rulers of the Gaza Strip, which adjoins northern Sinai.

Egyptian authorities have in the past accused Hamas of backing jihadists who have carried out deadly attacks on security forces in the Sinai Peninsula.

The Egyptian army says it has destroyed hundreds of tunnels used for smuggling supplies and arms between Sinai and Gaza, also used by militants to infiltrate Egypt.
Source: AFP