Hamas Denies Recruiting Malaysia-Based Students

Palestinian faction Hamas has dismissed claims by Israel's Shin Bet internal security Agency that its was "recruiting" Palestinian students studying in Malaysia.



"The Shin Bet's accusations… are baseless; they are mere lies," the group said in a statement.



Israeli daily Haaretz on Tuesday cited claims by Shin Bet officials that Hamas was training Palestinians from the West Bank currently studying in Malaysia to carry out militant operations under the auspices of Hamas' armed wing.



According to the newspaper, the students have been trained to operate "undercover" upon their return to the West Bank.



Hamas said the security agency's claims were intended to ratchet up pressure on Palestinian students based abroad.



"The Israeli accusations are aimed at preventing West Bank [Palestinian] students from traveling abroad to pursue their studies and providing a justification for their arrest upon their return," the group added.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Gazze