Gaza ruler, Hamas Wednesday allowed three Italian security officers to leave the enclave after holing up the UN office in the Strip as they were chased down and taken for Israeli intruders, Times of Israel reports. The men, the Israeli media citing a Hamas official said, sought refuge in the office in central Gaza on Monday night after they were seen in car. The men reportedly crossed into the enclave to prepare the visit of the Italian consul general based in Jerusalem. The three Italians according to a Hamas interior ministry spokesman, Iyad al-Bozum, left the surrendered UN building after their identities were checked. A diplomatic source, Times of Israel reports, said the men’s release was made possible through the intervention of intermediaries.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 17, 2019 14:26 UTC