Car damaged in the failed hit
Photo: MCT
Hamas closing in on culprits of attempted hit on Palestinian PM
As terror group continues to sniff out culprits behind attempted assassination of Palestinian PM Hamdallah, several workers of two cellular communications companies are arrested by Hamas for failing to cooperate in their investigation.
Hamas continues to carry out arrests in the Gaza Strip as the teror group attempts to sniff out those responsible for the assassination attempt on Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah, a Palestinian source familiar with the details of the investigation told Ynet, adding they are close to bringing them to justice.
The head of the Hamas security forces, Tawfiq Abu Naim, seemed to corroborate the source's claims, announcing that the terror organization already has the names of those involved in the assassination attempt.
"The investigation is underway and we will publish its findings when it is finished," Abu Naim concluded.
Palestinian PM Hamdallah (Photo: Reuters)
The source noted that the investigation found that the terrorists used the lines of the Palestinian cellular communications companies Wataniya Mobile and Jawwal to carry out the attack—apparently using a mobile phone to activate the explosive charges.
Hamas security forces arrested several workers in these companies in Gaza after they refused to cooperate with the investigation.
An explosive device was detonated Tuesday near the convoy of PM Hamdallah, who was visiting the Gaza Strip Tuesday morning accompanied by Palestinian General Intelligence chief Majid Faraj.
The aftermath of the failed hit (Photo: MCT)
New details of the failed hit led to the conclusion that a technical failure prevented a second explosive device from exploding. According to reports, the weight of each of the two charges was 15 kilograms, and they were placed 40 meters apart.
Seven were lightly wounded in the blast—all of whom were security guards of the convoy. Israel offered to give medical care to the wounded at the Erez Crossing.
(Photo: Reuters)
Minutes after the blast, Hamdallah, appearing unhurt, delivered a speech at an inauguration of a new sewage purification facility in the northern Gaza Strip, stressing the attack "will not deter (us—ed) from seeking to end the bitter split" and that Fatah will continue coming to the strip to try to end divisions with Hamas.
"It was a well planned attempt. They planted explosive devices two meters deep," Hamdallah said later in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where he is based, without pointing a finger at any group.
