Booo hooo --- Hamas torn

between expanding ties with Iran or Gulf Arabs GAZA CITY -- Only a year after capturing the Gaza Strip, the Hamas regime, has been split between Sunni and Shi'ite interests.

Hamas sources said hundreds of members of the military have defected in protest of the regime's expanding ties with Iran.

The sources said many of the defectors joined Al Qaida-aligned groups funded by Gulf Arab princes alarmed over the Iranian intervention around the Arab world.

A military display by masked Palestinian militants of the Hamas-affiliated Popular Resistance Committees in Nusseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on Aug. 6. AP/Khalil Hamra

"We are undergoing a split that many warned would happen," a Hamas security commander said.

On July 30, Hamas acknowledged that a leading operative of the Iranian-sponsored Hizbullah was arrested. The operative was identified as Imad Id, the correspondent for the Hizbullah satellite channel, Al Manar. Id, amid heavy pressure by Hizbullah, was said to have been later released.

"We believe he was working with hostile elements against the government," a Hamas source said.

This marked the second Hamas arrest of a journalist in the Gaza Strip in the last week of July. On July 26, Sawah Abu Saif, a cameraman for the German ARD network, was detained and beaten by Hamas's Internal Security forces. ARD said Abu Saif, released on July 31, was believed to have been tortured.

"All accusations against Sawah Abu Saif are, according to those who know and work with him, entirely unsubstantiated," ARD chairman Fritz Raff said on July 30. "Hence, as a clear sign of protest ARD will close its offices in Gaza until further notice."

Hamas sources acknowledged that the Islamic regime has been split into pro-Sunni and pro-Shi'ite factions. The sources said the security forces were financed and directed by Iran and Hizbullah while the political leadership was aligned with such Sunni countries as Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The split within the Islamic regime has been linked to a spate of attacks on Hamas in late July. On July 25, six people, three of them Hamas security officers, were killed in a cafe explosion after a military exercise.

At first, Hamas blamed the opposition Fatah movement. But Hamas sources said the bombing was conducted by a former Izzedin Kassam officer, Jihad Hejeila, who defected to an Al Qaida-aligned Sunni militia.

On July 30, the Hamas Interior Ministry identified the bomber as coming from the Hellas

clan, a longtime opponent of the Islamic regime. Hellas, whose members denied any involvement in the bombing, was said to be one of the largest clans in the area of Gaza City.

The regime sustained another bombing on late July 29 during a training exercise in the southern Gaza Strip. At least six Hamas officers were injured in an explosion at the Qadasiya military training center outside Khan Yunis. Hamas said the explosion could have been the result of an accident.

Over the last 48 hours, Izzedin Kassam has abducted several Palestinians around Gaza City and Khan Yunis. Some of the Palestinians, said to be Fatah members, had their mustaches shorn in an attempt by Hamas to humiliate them.