Hamas has established a new force to patrol the Gaza coastline, according to media reports published Thursday.
The force does not have any sea vessels, and at this point will rely on heavy machine guns and artillery to combat drug smugglers, Israeli warships and local fisherman suspected of collaborating with the Israelis.
Hamas seized full control of the Gaza Strip earlier this summer in a blood-soaked coup against the official security forces of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.