Palestinian security forces reported Sunday that Hamas' internal security service has uncovered a network of Palestinian collaborators with Israel.

According to reports, the three suspects who were detained had a Hamas official directly involved in the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit under surveillance and assisted the Israeli army in the recent killing of eight senior Islamic Jihad and Hamas members in Gaza.

Hamas also suspects that the collaborators were involved in the death of a member of Hamas' armed wing, the Izz al-Din el-Qassam Brigades, as well as that of six activists in the al-Quds Brigades, Islamic Jihad's military division.

The Islamist group contends that the men received orders to place under surveillance an activist in charge of Gilad Shalit's confinement in Gaza.

According to reports, a search of the suspects' vehicles found photos of a number of Islamic Jihad members, including spokesman Abu Ahmed and al-Quds Brigades commander Majed al-Harazin, who was killed in an Israeli air strike last week.

However, a security source said the collaborators were apparently not directly linked to al-Harazin's death.

Hamas officials said they hoped the uncovering of the network would hinder Israel's intelligence efforts and result in the arrest of additional people suspected on disclosing information to the IDF.

A total of 20 Palestinians were killed during the army's activity in Gaza last week.