After the shooting incident targeting the convoy of Palestinian Prime
Minister, Ismail Haniyya of the Hamas, which took place shortly after he was
allowed back in to the Gaza Strip, Hamas accused Fateh legislator
Mohammad Dahlan and members of the presidential security forces at the
Rafah Border Crossing of attempting to assassinate Haniyya.
Hamas' media spokesperson Ismail Radwan said in a press release from Gaza that Haniyya survived an assassination attempt carried out “by a spiteful group led by Mohammad Dahlan who prepared and planned this attack”, according to Radwan.
Hamas accused the presidential guards of attacking the Prime Minister’s convoy.
The Islamic Jihad said the attempt to assassinate the Prime Minister is an attempt to lead the Palestinian people to a serious internal fighting.
Radwan added that the government will chase this group, which planned its attacks through members of the presidential guards and fired at the convoy of Haniyya, according to him.
Radwan demanded that President Mahmoud Abbas uncover the plot and withdraw the presidential guards from the Rafah Crossing and the streets.
“They are not fit to protect the people”, Radwan stated. “They fired at the Prime Minister, and the Palestinian people”.
Meanwhile, Hamas legislator Mosheer Al Masry demanded that Dahlan should be prosecuted “for the crimes he committed since he is the leader of the coup and launched war against the government”, Al Masry stated.
One of Haniyya's companions was killed in the attack carried out by unknown gunmen last night, while Abdul-Salam, the son of Haniyya, and Haniyya's political advisor Ahmad Yousef were injured. The slain companion was identified as Abdul-Rahman Nassar.
The rival formal-ruling Fatah party condemned the attack and said that it only serves an Israeli agenda.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and several Fateh leaders slammed the attack against Haniyya. Abbas said that he will personally follow the development regarding this issue in order to expose and apprehend the assailants.
Updated from:
Palestinian PM escapes an assassination attempt, Hamas accuses top Fatah leader
George Rishmawi-IMEMC & Agencies,
Friday, 15 December 2006 10:32
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya escaped an assassination
attempt when a group of gunmen opened fire at his convoy as he was
entering the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, Thursday
near midnight.
Haniya’s bodyguard, Ahmad Nassar was killed in the incident, and his son, Abd El-Salam and his political advisor Ahmad Yousef were wounded in the attack.
Haniya arrived to Rafah border crossing on Thursday cutting short his visit to some Arabic and Islamic countries where he collected funds for the government, from Qatar, Iran and Sudan.
Israel refused to allow Haniya to enter the money with him to the Gaza Strip.
