Six Hamas operatives arrested in Cairo

Egypt reportedly masses tanks along the Sinai-Gaza border

Egyptian security forces on Monday arrested six Hamas activists in the Cairo home of a Muslim Brotherhood official. The men were reportedly taken into custody to determine how they entered the country.

The activists were detained in the home of a brother of one of Khairat Shater’s bodyguards. Among the men were brothers Imad and Iad Hasan Salam. They were found in possession of firearms and knives.

According to Egyptian media reports, the incident led to the arrest of 15 of Shater’s other bodyguards. Shater was a previous Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate.

Hamas is the Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, based in Gaza.

Turkish media reported earlier Monday that at least 30 Egyptian tanks were massed along the Gaza-Sinai border.

According to the report in Anatolia, cited by Ynet, it is the “first time in years” that the Egyptian army has deployed tanks in the region. Under the Israel-Egypt peace treaty, Egypt is obligated to coordinate movement of heavy military vehicles and weapons in the Sinai with Israel.

Egypt is in a state of high-alert due to massive, countrywide protests against the rule of President Mohammed Morsi, which have seen millions take to the streets. Since the latest round of protests began on Sunday, at least 16 people have died and hundreds have been wounded.

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