Israeli sources: “Army of Islam moved Shalit to Hamas control”

Wednesday July 04, 2007 20:20 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli sources reported on Wednesday that the abducted Israeli soldier in the Gaza Strip, Gilad Shalit, was moved by the Army of Islam, one of the groups that captured him last year, to the control of Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.

Captured Israeli soldier - Gilad Shalit

Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported that Army of Islam spokesperson, told the Israeli TV Channel 10 that Shalit is now in the hands of Hamas movement.

 The Army of Islam was the group that captured BBC reporter, Allen Johnston, who was freed on Wednesday after four months in captivity.

Deputy commander of Army of Islam group, Abu Muthaa’na stated on Wednesday that his group made the preparations for the “'Dissipating Illusion" operation which was carried out last year by the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade and the Popular Resistance Committees, and the Army of Islam, and handed Shalit to Hamas, Haaretz stated.

 He added that Shalit was moved to Hamas’ control “because the Army of Islam is busy in other issues”.

Haaretz added that high level security sources to the Israeli TV Channel 10 that Shalit was handed over to Hamas control in exchange for a large sum of money, but the Army of Islam denied this report.

Also on Wednesday, the BBC reporter Allen Johnston was freed after four months in captivity in the Gaza Strip.

Israel said that Shalit should also be freed and claimed that Hamas movement is behind the delay of implementing a prisoner swap deal with Israel.

Moreover, Haaretz reported that Miri Essen, a spokesperson of the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, called on Hamas movement to release Shalit as it freed Johnston.

gaza strip | palestinian attacks | news report saed at imemc dot org