Gaza Strip: Hamas disarms clan behind abduction of BBC reported

Published August 17th, 2007 - 07:03 GMT

Hamas forces have collected weapons from a large, influential clan linked to the four-month kidnapping of a BBC reporter, Hamas said Friday. The Doghmush family turned in 60 weapons to the forces of Hamas, the movement's spokesman Saber Khalifa said.

 

Hamas agreed to let the clan keep several weapons on the condition that they are used against Israel and against Palestinians in any future fighting, Khalifa said, according to the AP.

 

Those from the Doghmush clan who were linked to the kidnapping of BBC reporter Alan Johnston would be "brought to justice," Khalifa conveyed. "The goal is not to collect the weapons, but to impose law and order and make the family stick to its commitments," he said.

 

The Doghmushes have ties to the Army of Islam, a shadowy group that held Johnston.