Forest fires in northern Israel "a strike from Allah", Hamas says

Monday, December 6th, 2010

By BNO News

GAZA CITY (BNO NEWS) -- The fires ravaging northern Israel are Alla's expression of anger towards Israelis, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said on Sunday.

Haniyeh told reporters that the fires, which killed 41 Israelis, "are divine strikes for what [Israel] did. These are plagues from God," said Haniyeh. "Allah is punishing them from a place they did not expect it."

The fire broke out on Thursday afternoon across the Carmel mountains and most of the casualties were from a bus evacuating prison guards near Haifa, Israel's third largest city. In addition, dozens more were injured including police officers and firefighters.

The fire is continuing to spread and is endangering many areas and police forces urged citizens to stay clear of the area, while more than 17,000 people have already been evacuated.

The affected region has heavy brush that burns easily and the fire is spreading due to the strong winds.

Israel on Friday announced that police forces arrested two individuals suspected of being involved in the fires. Both individuals were arrested after and Israeli Air Force drone filmed two men as they were attempting to ignite flammable material in the area before the fire began.

Investigators are also looking evidence of other recent arson incidents in order to determine if they are related. On Friday afternoon, a fire broke out near a gas station in Kiryat Bialik.

Source: WireUpdate.
Link: http://wireupdate.com/wires/12997/forest-fires-in-northern-israel-a-strike-from-allah-hamas-says/.