Palestinian government threatens Hamas with investigation revelations
Palestine-Israel, Judicial, 4/7/1998

As Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, insisted that the Palestinian government's version of what happened and who killed Mohyiddin Sharif ten days ago was incorrect, the Palestinian government threatened on Tuesday evening to disclose all details Palestinian investigators obtained from the four Hamas suspects who were interrogated on their connection to Sharif's murder.

The threats by the Palestinian government came shortly after reports -- yet to be confirmed -- which raised the possibility that Sharif, who was on top of the Israeli list of wanted Palestinians, was himself an agent for the Israeli secret services. The fact that the Palestinian government threatened to release more of the details of its interrogation was enough to hint that Hamas will have lots of problems resulting from the unrevealed parts of the interrogation.

The Palestinian government, it is believed, wanted to hint to Hamas that parts of the investigation, if unveiled, might cause a major embarrassment to the movement once they are released. But Hamas insiders argue that it never has happened that a Hamas member was killed in what can be called an internal political assassination.

The reports that raised this possibility said that Adel Awadall, who, according to the Palestinian government, is definitely the one who shot Sharif to death, had in fact received his instructions from Mohammed Deif, top commander of Hamas' military wing, Izziddin Al Qassam, who is living in hiding in the Gaza Strip.

So far, Hamas said it does not believe the Palestinian government's version at all. Its chief spokesman, Dr. Abdul Aziz Rantisi, said his movement is conducting an internal investigation and until then, Israel is the only side to blame.

Previous Stories:
  Palestine warns Hamas against attacking Israel, identity revealed   (4/6/1998)
  Is Hamas on the verge of a split?   (4/6/1998)
  Retaliation by Hamas called for   (4/2/1998)

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