Salafist group in Gaza accuses Hamas of abuse, torture

A group calling itself the Salafist Trend say its members are being tortured and monitored by the terrorist organization.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Niña palestina celebra el aniversario número 27 de Hamás(Credito: REUTERS) (photo credit: REUTERS)
Niña palestina celebra el aniversario número 27 de Hamás(Credito: REUTERS)
(photo credit: REUTERS)
A group calling itself The Salafist Trend is accusing Hamas of torturing its supporters in prisons, monitoring its activities in cities and tracking its movements across refugee camps throughout Gaza, according to Palestinian media.
Palestinian news agency Ma'an cited a press release issued by the group Saturday warning the terrorist organization of the consequences of continuing there activity against The Salafist Trend.
"Once again we ask the wise people of Gaza to stop the ongoing Hamas criminality and abusive detention of our brothers before it's too late," the statement read.
The Salafist group also claimed it possessed  "details about what is going on inside the detention cells of the interior security service, including names of the criminal interrogators who torture and insult our people."
According to Ma'an, the statement went on to allege that security officers and undercover agents tasked with watching supporters and ransacking their homes are also known to the group by name.
"Those also won't escape punishment, sooner or later," Ma'an quoted the group as saying. 
Hamas has cracked down on Salafist groups in the past, particularly those on the violent fringes, seeing them as a threat to their authority in the coastal enclave.
In addition, they enjoy general support from Hamas' main rival Fatah, appointing them to a number of Palestinian Authority positions, establishing them as potential competitors to Hamas.