Hamas Blames Israel as Lebanon Car Bombing Hurts Member

Rasa - A car bomb explosion in the Southern Lebanese city of Sidon has slightly wounded a member of Hamas, according to Hamas, which blamed Israel for the assassination attempt.

News ID: 435806

Date: 15 January 2018 - 16:19

RNA - Mohammed Hamdan suffered a leg injury on Sunday after a bomb planted in his car detonated, Hamas' media group said in a statement, Al-Jazeera reported.

"Initial indications point to Zionist [Israeli] fingers behind this criminal act," Hamas stressed without further details.

Hamdan was taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to local media reports and a photograph released by Hamas.

Hamas' statement described Hamdan as one of its "cadres" in Sidon.

The bomb used about 500 grams of explosives and was placed under the driver's seat. The explosion destroyed the vehicle and caused damage to a nearby building, sending black smoke rising above the city.

This is not the first time Hamas officials come under attack. Israel has assassinated many figures with the Palestinian group.

Last March, Tel Aviv assassinated Mazen Fuqaha, one of the group’s senior figures, in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. The victim was shot with four bullets to his head.

In 2010, Israel had itself embroiled in an international scandal when its operatives used false European and Australian passports to assassinate senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in the United Arab Emirates.

The killing and the circumstances surrounding it also raised suspicions of complicity by Emirati intelligence and other services in the assassination.

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