Hamas denies link between Gaza militants, Sinai attack

RAMALLAH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Hamas authorities denied any role of Palestinian militant groups in the attack on an Egyptian army post near the Gaza Strip which killed at least 16 soldiers late Sunday.

"The Palestinian resistant factions are committed in fighting only against the Israeli occupation, and launch operations only from the Palestinian territories," said Islam Shahwan, spokesman for Hamas interior ministry.

Meanwhile, Egypt decided to shut down Rafah crossing point between Sinai and the Gaza Strip, which is located a few kilometers away from the Israeli-Egyptian border where the attack happened.

Gunmen believed to be tied to al-Qaeda have attacked the army post, seized two armored vehicles, and tried to drive them into Israel, which accused the militants of being Palestinians.

Israeli airplanes struck one the vehicles while an internal blast rocked the other one. Three militants were killed as a result, Israel Radio reported.

Hamas announced that it has shut down all tunnels beneath Gaza' s southern borders with Sinai after the attack.

A source from Hamas said that there was coordination between Gaza authorities and Egypt regarding the tunnels, "and this refutes the Israeli claims that the militants came from Gaza." Enditem

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