Hamas security forces in Gaza. Photo: Olly L.

Hamas has launched an uncompromising war against any other terrorist groups operating inside the Gaza Strip who seek to undermine the ongoing truce between its administration and Israel, Israeli daily Ma’ariv reported on Wednesday.

In a letter sent by the rulers of Gaza to Hamas National Security Commander Abu Ubaidah al-Jarrah, all areas that are known to be used as launching pads for rocket attacks against Israel were ordered to be closed down immediately, Ma’ariv said.

Furthermore, al-Jarrah was ordered to aggressively pursue and subdue any terrorists who are suspected of plotting to attack Israel. The Hamas directive also applies to the use of lighter fire arms, not just missiles, Ma’ariv said. Abu Ubaidah al-Jarrah has even been given permission by Hamas to open fire on suspects if necessary.

The contents of this extraordinary document, which were published by the Egyptian newspaper Al-Watan, also detail the legal practices to be invoked against anyone who dares defy Hamas by taking action against Israel, Ma’ariv said.

Part of the zero tolerance approach allows and even requires Hamas’s Interior Department to court-martial any ‘collaborator’ thought to be subverting the uneasy quiet between Hamas and Israel.

According to Al-Watan the general directive was distributed to senior ranking Hamas officials on Sunday night, shortly after Israeli citizens living in the southern part of the country came under attack by rocket fire launched from Gaza.

The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel was reached, with the aid of Egyptian mediators, at the end of 2012, after the Israel Defense Forces’ ‘Pillar of Defense’ operation.