The Hamas government on Tuesday launched a campaign to persuade Palestinians
“collaborating” with Israel to turn themselves in.
Islam Shahwan,
spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry in the Gaza Strip, said the
campaign was aimed at “opening the door for repentance” for Palestinians who
have been working for Israel.
“This is a chance for all those who fell
victims to the deception of Israeli security forces to return to their people,”
he said during a press conference. He promised that Hamas would not reveal the
identities of those who give themselves up and repent.
Hamas set April 11
as the deadline for the so-called collaborators to hand themselves over to the
Hamas authorities.
“This campaign is an appeal to our people to be on
alert so as to foil the enemy’s espionage schemes,” the spokesman said. “The
battle with the enemy is a long one.”
The Hamas campaign comes in the
aftermath of the IDF’s Operation Pillar of Defense against Gaza-launched rocket
and missile attacks on the South last year.
Hamas believes there are many
Palestinians in the Gaza Strip who tipped off Israel about the location of
rocket launchers.
Mohamed Lafi, a senior Hamas security commander, said
Hamas has prepared a list with the names of Palestinians who will be arrested
unless they turn themselves in before the deadline.
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