Report: Hamas leadership prevents military wing from attacking Israel

Retaliation for IAF strikes had been planned for last week, leaders veto move; Hamas re-deploys rocket prevention force on border.

IDF soldier sits atop a tank just outside northern Gaza Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Hamas canceled plans for retaliatory strikes against Israel last week at the urging of the head of the organization's administration in Gaza,  the London-based pan-Arabic dailyAsharq Alawsat reported on Tuesday.

The Izzadin Kassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, had planned to launch rocket attacks on southern Israel in response to the Israel Air Force's bombing of its headquarters last Thursday, but the political leaders of the terrorist organization vetoed the move.
Over the previous weekend Hamas's military wing  withdrew about 900 members of its rocket-prtevention force who were guarding the border between Gaza and Israel.  The troops operate along the border fence with Israel working to thwart extremist organizations, such as Islamic Jihad, from launching mortars and rockets at the western Negev.

The Interior Ministry of Hamas announced Tuesday that forces had re-deployed along the border fence with Israel to once again prevent rocket fire.

Palestinian security sources said that the withdrawal of troops was a protest against the IDF attack in Gaza on Thursday.