A man claiming to be the Mahdi, the promised redeemer of Islam, approached a leading imam in Gaza on Tuesday and insisted that local Muslims begin obeying his instructions.

The Bethlehem-based Ma'an News Agency reported that the enraged imam immediately called for the assistance of Hamas security forces, who demanded that the man recant his claim.

When the self-proclaimed Mahdi refused, the Hamas gunmen shot the man's feet and then released him.