Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah survived an apparent assassination attempt on Tuesday, as a bomb detonated next to his convoy during a visit to the Gaza Strip, wounding several people according to Palestinian media.
The PA said Prime Minister Hamdallah and the PA General Intelligence Chief Majed Faraj, who was accompanying him, were unhurt. Media reports however said that several bystanders were injured.
PA civil affairs minister Hussein Al Sheikh asserted that Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, would be held fully responsible for this “murderous” assassination attempt. He added that the development would have grave consequences for the group.
Three of the vehicles in Hamdallah’s convoy were damaged, their windows blown out. One of the vehicles had signs of blood on the door. A video from the scene showed a huge plume of black smoke rising into the air near the convoy.
Hamas did not claim responsibility for the attack, stating that it was carried out by groups aiming to undermine its reconciliation with the Palestinian Authority. A Hamas security official said that a number of suspects had been arrested in connection with the explosion.
