Reports: Senior Hamas official defects to Israel, Gaza hit with airstrike
Published June 14, 2016
The Israel Defense Forces uncovers a terror tunnel running from the southern Gaza Strip to Israel, May 5, 2016. (Courtesy of IDF)
(JTA) — A senior Hamas officer from Gaza reportedly has defected to Israel.
Bassam Mahmoud Baraka, who is believed to have extensive knowledge of Hamas’ underground tunnel networks, has been missing for several days and may have fled to Israel, Haaretz reported Tuesday, citing several Palestinian media outlets.
Baraka, the son of a Muslim religious judge affiliated with Hamas, is believed to have given himself up to Israeli soldiers waiting for him at the border, the Palestinian reports said.
Fatah websites said the Red Cross informed Baraka’s family that he was in Israeli custody.
Meanwhile, Israel reportedly launched an airstrike into Gaza, causing damage but no injuries.
According to The Times of Israel, Palestinian sources on Tuesday said Israelis were targeting a Hamas tunnel opening when they hit an agricultural area near the border.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed there were explosions near the border but said they were related to an Air Force test. The IDF did not say whether the explosions occurred in Israel or Gaza.
