Militants torch Gaza water park shut down by Hamas

[oberliner]

Gaza's aquapark attraction "Crazy Water Park" was vandalized and partially set ablaze by on Sunday morning, the seaside resort's management said.

Around 40 unidentified militants stormed the tourist resort, breaking and destroying items and setting fire to its restaurant and administration buildings.

The tourist attraction houses three swimming pools, water slides and various cafes and other facilities.

Alladein al-Araj, the attraction's director general, said in a statement that the militants also tied the hands of the guards and beat them.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/militants-torch-gaza-water-park-shut-down-by-hamas-1.314603

[abq e streeter]

1. But I'm sure this was ordered directly by god, so it's OK

[peacetalksforall]

2. It's too bad the Palestinians in Gaza don't have their own paper so that we can hear the

other side of this story.

The sad fact is that even though I like Haaretz for what seems to be fair reporting, the way the Palestinian people are being suffocated, who knows what we should really believe.

[azurnoir]

4. Actually there is press in Gaza and the West Bank

Gaza: Assailants set fire to water park

Unknown assailants set fire to a water resort park on Sunday west of Gaza City, causing extensive damage, owners said.

Ala Al-Araj, the chairman of the Crazy Water resort's board, said assailants poured fuel around the resort at 3 a.m and set fire to it, after tying up and blindfolding the park's security guards.

Gaza police and the attorney general closed the park off after the arson, he said, but accused police of failing to provide sufficient protection.

He said the lucrative parts of the water resort sustained extensive damage in the fire.

Weeks after the attack, the Sharek Youth Forum said it had suspended work in the coastal enclave, after its offices were raided several times by armed groups.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=315971

link to Maan's homepage

http://www.maannews.net/eng/

[oberliner]

6. This isn't Ha'aretz reporting

The story is from DPA (Deutsche Presse-Agentur).

Ha'aretz and other news outlets have used the DPA wire story.

AFP also has a similar version of the story:

http://www.france24.com/en/20100919-gunmen-torch-gaza-beach-club-shuttered-hamas

[CurtEastPoint]

3. Only open 4 months...

[azurnoir]

5. interesting considering

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=124&topic_id=329530

[oberliner]

7. Guess Hamas didn't let that last very long

Not especially surprising.

[azurnoir]

8. on the thread I linked the "impression" seemed to be that Hamas built the park

instead of civilian homes

[CJvR]

9. Tempting to blame Hamas.

But there are no shortage of either Jihadist fanatics or regular criminals outside Hamas who could have pulled this off.

[oberliner]

10. Hamas shut down the park

Who set fire to the place is another question.