Hamas claims to have thwarted Israeli incitement plan

Sources inside Gaza say several people have been arrested for involvement in a suspected Israeli plan to stir opposition against movement by using social media.

Analysis

1 min read

Dia Khalil

08 May, 2015

Shin Bet has been linked to fake social media accounts in Gaza [AFP]

Hamas and security authorities in Gaza claim to have have thwarted an Israeli attempt to create chaos by inciting citzens against it.

Sources told al-Araby al-Jadeed that Israel was trying to use the media to turn public opinion against Hamas and create unrest by spreading rumours and blaming it for the difficult situation in Gaza.

Hamas arrested several people suspected of being involved in the plan, according to sources.

Gaza has recently seen tension between Hamas and Salafist groups with sympathies to the Islamic State group.

The sources said security authorities in Gaza had uncovered links between the Israeli security agency Shin Bet and fake social media accounts, especially on Facebook and Twitter.

Shin Bet has targeted Gaza after a recent decline in Hamas's ability to maintain security in the strip.

This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.