Egypt seizes Hamas official in northern Sinai

EL-ARISH, Egypt (Ma’an) -- Egyptian authorities on Tuesday detained a Hamas internal security official while en route to Egypt.

Identified only by his initials, S.A., 30, from Khan Younis in southern Gaza, was found in a taxi in the northern Sinai when he was arrested.

Police say he confessed under interrogation to paying a smuggler to transport him through a tunnel under the Rafah border area. He was found in possession of $5,000 and 1,000 Egyptian pounds, officials said. He was not carrying ID, they added.

Police have yet to determine why the man was in Egypt, they said. He was being held at the Egyptian State Security investigations headquarters in northern Sinai to undergo further interrogation, security sources said.