Hamas arrests first rocket squads since truce

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas arrested seven Palestinians who fired rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, a militant faction said, in the first such detentions since the Islamist group and Israel agreed a truce last month.

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group linked to President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group, said Hamas men pursued three of its members after the attack and "abducted them" in Jabalya refugee camp.

No one was hurt in the strike with two rockets on southern Israel.

Four more men were arrested as they tried to fire rockets at Israel after darkness fell, an al-Aqsa official said.

"We demand their immediate release," said Abu Qusai, a brigades spokesman.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said: "We stress that all parties should maintain the national agreement that was reached with a consensus."

Hamas, which seized control of the Gaza Strip a year ago after routing forces loyal to the secular Fatah group, had previously said it would not use force against other militants who violate the truce.

Al-Aqsa said it launched the rockets in retaliation for the Israeli army's killing of an unarmed member of the group as he tried to cross a border fence into Israel earlier in the day.