Source: Al-bawaba, 10-7-2007
Hamas on Tuesday denied allegations by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the Islamic movement allowed al-Qaeda to infiltrate the Gaza Strip. In an interview Monday with Italy`s RAI TV, Abbas charged that "thanks to the support of Hamas, al-Qaeda is entering Gaza."
On his part, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri accused Abbas of trying to whip up sentiment against Hamas. "Hamas has no link to al-Qaeda," Abu Zuhri said, according to the AP. Abbas of Fatah "is trying to mislead international opinion to win support for his demand to deploy international forces in Gaza."
Al-Qaeda`s presence in the Palestinian territories has been a subject of intense speculation since the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. Hamas leaders have suggested they would steer clear of al-Qaeda, in line with the movement`s long-standing position to stay focused on the conflict with "Israel".