Hamas makes arrest in killing of one of its top commanders

Hamas, the Islamic militant group which controls Gaza, said on Thursday it arrested the person responsible for the mysterious March assassination of one of its top commanders and that the suspect had acted on orders from Israel.

Gaza had been on edge for weeks amid a manhunt for the killer of Mazen Faqha, a leading figure in Hamas’ military wing who was shot to death outside of his Gaza City home with a weapon that used a silencer.

Speaking at a press conference outside of Faqha’s home, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh did not reveal the identity of the suspect, but said the person had provided a “complete” confession to Hamas security services that they had “carried out orders of the Israeli security services.” He called the confession a “breakthrough.”

In April, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman told an Israeli newspaper that the Faqha was killed by someone from Hamas.

Haniyeh, who was named Hamas’ new top leader last week, said Gaza’s interior ministry would release further details of the arrest and confession later.

He said “we will hand out a just ruling towards the killer and everyone who had a hand in this crime and we will continue until the enemy understands that our blood is precious.”

Just one month ago, Hamas executed by hanging three Palestinians convicted of treason and alleged collaboration with Israel, prompting protests from Palestinian and international human rights groups.

The executions were unconnected to Faqha’s killing, but they were carried out amid a crackdown inside Gaza that included the shuttering of a border crossing with Israel and a ban on Gaza fisherman from taking their boats out to sea. Hamas also instituted a week long clemency program to encourage Gazans working with Israel to come forward.

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Mitnick is a special correspondent.

@joshmitnick