Report: Egyptian forces kill, capture Hamas followers in Sinai

CAIRO, July 11 (UPI) -- Thirty-two Hamas activists were killed and 45 arrested in the Sinai Peninsula, where one Egyptian official said Hamas was fomenting unrest.

An Egyptian military source told the London-based al-Hayat newspaper Thursday, "Hamas is flaring up the situation in Sinai" after Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamed Morsi was ousted as Egypt's president last week.

"We have detected movements of Hamas activists cooperating with jihadists in Sinai. We killed and arrested some of them," the source said. "They enter Sinai through the tunnels to carry out attacks, along with others, and then return to Gaza through the tunnels."

Stability in Sinai has been fragile since the 2011 revolution that ousted President Hosni Mubarak and deteriorated further during Morsi's year in office.

Gunmen in northern Sinai had tried to kill Gen. Ahmed Wasfy, commander of the Second Field Army, in the in Sheikh Zuwaid area, Ynetnews.com reported. An exchange of gunfire between gunmen and the convoy protecting Wasfy killed a girl who was passing by.

Waspy told local media he was not hurt.

Before Morsi's ouster, the Egyptian army moved forces in the Sinai to work with Israeli forces against terrorist cells in the area.