Abu Omar

Israel pressed its offensive in the Gaza Strip on Friday after telling key backer the United States that the war to crush Hamas will last "more than several months".

Vowing to destroy Hamas and bring home an estimated 240 hostages taken by militants into Gaza, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has left swathes of the besieged territory in ruins.

The Belgrade Centre for Security Policy, BCBP, and Lawyers' Committee for Human Rights, YUCOM, on Friday urged the Prosecution for Organized Crime, TOK, when prosecuting people smuggling gangs, to examine information published by BIRN about the links between Ministry of Interior officials and smugglers.

Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin, after attending an action in Subotica aimed at suppressing crimes and misdemeanours committed by refugees and migrants, said on Thursday that "no smuggling gang will pass without being discovered and broken, so that their members are not punished in accordance with the law".

Shooting from firearms was reported on Thursday from a migrant and refugee camp near Sombor in northwest Serbia, related to a conflict between migrant gangs. One person was wounded, Serbian police told N1 TV.

BIRN can reveal that another incident also happened during the night between Wednesday and Thursday.

Alen Basil in 2012. Photo: Facebook

When BIRN called Basil to ask about the claims that he is involved in the people-smuggling business, he denied the accusations.

"I am a court translator, I work with the court and of course I am mentioned [n that context], because I am there with the prosecutor and with the court," he said.

A former CIA agent who was found guilty of kidnapping an Egyptian imam by an Italian court more than a decade ago said on June 29 she intended to return to Italy to face her sentence, but hopes to avoid prison.