Ha’aretz reports:
A senior aide to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that the release of BBC reporter Alan Johnston in the Gaza Strip was “a movie” staged by Hamas, who took credit for securing the release.
Yasser Abed Rabbo said that Hamas’ release of the Briton, held in Gaza for nearly four months by the custody of militant group Army of Islam, had been staged, as the two groups were in league with each other. He said Hamas staged the rescue in order to “appear as if [Hamas] respects international law.”
“We’re watching a movie, where the thieves in Gaza fall out and one of them claims to be honest and brave, and the other is the bad guy. This Hamas game fools no one,” Rabbo said…