Egyptian authorities have arrested a Hamas member who planned to plant a car bomb at a security site, according to a statement issued by a military spokesman.
The statement said that Hamas member, Gomaa Khamis Bereika was arrested at dawn on Wednesday. A source in the military spokesman’s office said that Bereika was arrested west of the Suez Canal.
The exact location of Bereika’s arrest was not disclosed.
“Bereika was arrested in a white Mercedes with a North Sinai number plate. When interrogated, he confessed to planning a car bombing at a strategic security site,” the statement added.
The statement also said that Bereika does not have Egyptian residency papers.
Mushir Al-Masry, a leading figure in Hamas and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, told the Daily News Egypt that Bereika’s arrest is a part of an ongoing campaign of, “Fabrications against Hamas that have no evidence to support the claims.”
“This is another attempt to thrust Hamas into Egypt’s domestic affairs. This kind of news is no longer believed by anybody,” Al-Masry said.
Al-Masry reiterated that Hamas cannot harm Egypt’s security, saying, “The wellbeing of Egypt’s national security positively affects Palestinian national security.”
Al-Masry asked Egypt to support Hamas’ resistance to the “Zionist enemy” instead of fabricating news aimed at discrediting them.
Hamas-Egyptian relations have experienced increasing tensions in recent months amid the rise of militancy that has taken place in the Sinai since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi on 3 July.
Morsi was referred to Criminal Court on 18 December on charges of committing espionage for several foreign bodies, including Hamas.
Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
