Hamas officials say they have arrested several suspected Israeli spies allegedly linked to attacks on armed groups and the killing of top militants.
A Hamas spokesman, Ihab al-Ghussein, calls the arrests a "success" in a campaign to crack down on alleged collaborators with Israel in Gaza. He says they pose a real danger to the "unity and people of the resistance."
Officials will not say how many people have been arrested, but they say the detainees include women.
The group launched a campaign to rid Gaza of spies several months ago. It is believed that many well-known Gaza residents have been arrested.
Hamas has accused the spies of aiding Israel in a 2008 war, in which at least 1,400 Palestinians were killed, including several top Hamas leaders.
The announcement Thursday comes as a Hamas court sentenced a Gaza man to death by firing squad on charges of spying for Israel.
At least two other alleged spies were executed earlier this year. More than 11 others have received the death sentence.
Hamas says spies who surrender will be "rehabilitated" rather than prosecuted.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
