- GAZA CITY: Hamas movement which controls the Gaza Strip prevented a group of local militants from carrying out a military attack on Israeli troops near the Gaza borders and detained them for four hours, Al-Quds brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, said in a statement Monday.
"Four members of the Al-Quds Brigades were released after being detained by Hamas’ internal security services in northern Gaza for over four hours," a spokesman for Al-Quds brigades said in the statement.
"The group's weapons and possessions were confiscated and they were forced to sign an oath not to undertake any actions against the Zionist enemy because of an unannounced period of calm."
Meanwhile, Khaled Al-Batesh, an Islamic Jihad leader, told reporters that his movement is not in a state of cease-fire with Israel, adding "Our movement maintains the right to counter Israel with all means available."
The local news agency "Maan" reported on Monday that the arrest of the local militants comes amid conflict between Hamas and Islamic Jihad, with the Hamas government promising to halt the launch of homemade rocket attacks temporarily, and Islamic Jihad leaders refusing to give up what they call their right and duty to resist Israel.