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| By Israel Insider staff July 26, 2008 |
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A bomb exploded at a major coastal junction in Gaza Friday, killing six Palestinians including Amar Masbach, a senior member of Hamas' Izz al-Din al-Qassam military wing who survived an Israeli assassination attempt last year. Four other Hamas men were killed in the blast, including Iyad al-Haya, the cousin of senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Haya. Osama, al-Haya's son, was among the wounded. A female bystander was also killed. More than 15 people were wounded in the explosion, west of Gaza City.
The blast is believed to be related to Palestinian infighting, although the circumstances of the latest explosion are unclear at this time. According to one report, the explosion occurred while the two Hamas men were carrying explosive devices. A gas tank was apparently found in their vehicle. However, another possibility is that the blast was a deliberate attack on Hamas members.
Hamas said the explosion was the work of "gangs of agents," hinting that Fatah members were to blame. Later the ruling party issued a statement blaming "members of the fugitive party" -- a derogatory term for Fatah. "We have information that some elements are planning to carry out bombings against the interests and leaders of Hamas in order to sow anarchy," said senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, whose nephew was killed and his son wounded in the beachside blast.
Hamas said those killed were "out on a trip" organized by a Gaza mosque, according to Reuters and YnetNews. Hamas said the device had been planted near a place where Hamas police cars park, but that there were no officers present during the detonation. The dead and wounded were passersby on their way to the beach, medical officials in Gaza said. They just happened to be senior Hamas officials. Bad luck for them.
Earlier in the day, an explosion destroyed a coffee house, killing one. A bomb also rocked a Hamas politician's home Friday. There, too, Hamas blamed "gunmen" for the bombings, suggesting the involvement of a Palestinian faction, not Israel.
An IDF spokesman said he was not aware of any Israeli activity in the area. |
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