Haneiyah: We were obliged to act against Jund Insar Allah

Gaza - Ma'an : The Hamas government was obliged to act against Jund Ansar Allah (Soldiers for God), de facto Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said publicly following overnight clashes between the ultra-Islamist group and Hamas police.

"Members of the group had worked against the government, described it as unreligious and armed themselves in opposition," the de facto Prime Minister said at a conference on Saturday. "These were radicals who blew themselves up in the midst of security officers," he said.

Haniyeh described the group as one that took advantage of youth and infused them with "strange ideas" based on acting against so-called atheists in a violent way. In all ways, he added, this came about because of the Israeli siege on Gaza, and the war Israel perpetrated against the people of the Strip. He said the dire conditions fostered negative thinking in younger generations.

Six de facto government police and one Hamas leader were reportedly killed in the clashes that arose after the Jund Ansar Allah took over a Rafah city mosque and, along with hundreds of armed supporters, declared the city of Rafah an Islamic Emirate. Another six civilians were confirmed dead, including two young girls. Ten others from the ultra-Islamist movement including Jund Ansar Allah leader Sheikh Abdul Latif Moussa were also killed.

Sources said two loud explosions were heard during clashes, reportedly Jund Ansar Allah fighters blowing themselves up amidst Hamas police.