The Hamas spy operation is said to have been carried out by senior members of the terror group both in Gaza and abroad.
By World Israel News Staff
The Palestinian Authority (PA) says that the Hamas terror group has infiltrated the PA security establishment in a spy operation, according to a report in Ynet.
The Hamas operation is described as wide-ranging, having taken place over the past year. Senior PA defense officials reportedly were recruited to spy for the terror group.
Hamas forcibly took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, but has been viewed both by Israel and the Palestinian Authority as a threat to the PA in Judea and Samaria, as well.
Ynet cites Palestinian reports as saying that all of the Hamas agents have been arrested by the PA.
The Hamas spy operation is said to have been carried out by senior members of the terror group both in Gaza and abroad. It was uncovered two months ago, says the Israeli news website.
High-ranking Palestinian officials reportedly told both Ynet and its sister newspaper Yedioth Aharonot that after PA military intelligence uncovered the Hamas infiltration, it alerted the Palestinian Authority leadership and launched a secret investigation to learn of the extent of the plot. PA leader Mahmoud Abbas was said to have been notified.
Despite a lack of political ties between Israel and the PA, security cooperation is maintained, according to Israeli military sources. The Palestinian Authority relies on Israel for a higher level of intelligence, say the Israeli sources, noting that the cooperation serves both sides in efforts to fend off Hamas and other terror groups.