The Hamas government in Gaza is now using its authority to foil the firing efforts of cells from other organizations such as the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Resistance Committees. The new force was formed by and is under the direct command of Hamas Interior Minister Fathi Hammad, who in the past has been considered an extremist in regard to Israel. The force has a green light to shoot activists who resist arrest or fire at the Hamas soldiers and anyone arrested can expect to spend at least a couple of months in prison.