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Tension renews between Hamas, IS in Gaza

Much speculation surrounds the purported animosity between Hamas and Islamic State militants in Gaza, further threatening Gaza’s security.

A Palestinian police officer loyal to Hamas pushes back Salafists during a protest against satirical French weekly magazine Charlie Hebdo's cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad, outside the French Cultural Centre in Gaza city January 19, 2015. Dozens of Jihadist Salafi men rallied in Gaza on Monday to condemn continued publication by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo of cartoons deemed offensive to Islam's Prophet. Charlie Hebdo published a picture of Mohammad weeping on its cover last week after gunmen s
A Palestinian police officer loyal to Hamas pushes back Salafists during a protest in Gaza City, Jan. 19, 2015. — REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

The security situation in the Gaza Strip is witnessing a state of tense calm, after the bombings that occurred in the last few weeks, most recently April 6, when an explosive device targeted the Internal Security apparatus in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, resulting in damage without injuries. No one claimed responsibility for the explosion, but accusations have been exchanged between Hamas and Fatah in regard to who is responsible.

All of a sudden, the beginning of a new conflict between Hamas and Islamic State (IS) supporters emerged, sparking fears of security tension — which Gaza can do without, in light of its issues that worsen by the day.

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