Hamas orders Gaza gang leader to surrender, accusing him of treason and looting

The interior ministry in Gaza has today ordered the leader of a well-armed Bedouin gang, Yasser Abu Shabab, to surrender in 10 days and face trial, accusing him of treason.

Hamas, which accuses Abu Shabab of looting UN aid trucks and says that he is backed by Israel, has sent some of its top fighters to kill him, two Hamas sources and two other sources familiar with the situation told Reuters last month.

A court urged Palestinians to inform Hamas security officials about the whereabouts of Abu Shabab, who has so far remained beyond their reach in the Rafah area of southern Gaza held by Israeli troops. There was no immediate response from his group to the surrender order.

Israel has said it has backed some of Gaza's clans against Hamas, but has not said which.