Islamists hang Italian kidnapped in Gaza
A radical Islamist group hanged an Italian activist hours after kidnapping him in Gaza, Hamas said yesterday, as Rome denounced the "barbaric murder."
The pro-Palestinian activist was found hanged in a house north of Gaza City, the ruling Hamas government said.
"The government media office denounces the criminal kidnapping and murder of an Italian solidarity activist... who was found by security hanging in an abandoned house in northern Gaza," it said.
Hamas said two suspected kidnappers were arrested and security officials were looking for accomplices.
The pro-Palestinian International Solidarity Movement (ISM) named the activist as 36-year-old member Vittorio Arrigoni, who had been living in the Gaza Strip for much of the past three years.
In a video posted on YouTube, the kidnappers said Arrigoni had been taken hostage in order to secure the release of an unspecified number of Salafists detained by Hamas security forces, including Hisham al-Suedani, a leader of the radical group Tawhid wal Jihad.
The kidnappers, who identified themselves as belonging to The Brigade of the Gallant Companion of the Prophet Mohammed bin Muslima, said they would execute Arrigoni if their demands were not met by 5:00pm local time yesterday.
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