The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, strongly denounced the explosion that targeted the Palestinian intelligence headquarters in Gaza City, and seriously injured Palestinian Intelligence Chief Tareq Abu Rajab, who was wounded in the blast along with seven of his companions.
Abu Rajab was rushed to be operated on at Shifa Hospital in the Gaza city. The operation room was sealed off by dozens of security men who also blocked of access to the hospital.
After the surgery, Abu Rajab was transferred to an Israeli hospital. Doctors in Gaza said that the condition of Abu Rajab is stable and the bleeding was stopped before he was transferred to the Israeli hospital.
“This is a regrettable and sorrowful incident”, Abbas stated, “This blast is a great threat to the Palestinian Authority”
Shortly after the blast, members of Fateh movement, headed by Abbas, demanded that the president should dissolve the Hamas-led government.
Palestinian policemen clashed with members of the independent police force that was formed by Hamas.
The blast took place when a bomb went off in an elevator in the Palestinian intelligence headquarters in Gaza. One of Abu Rajab’s bodyguards was killed, nine people were injured.
Abbas made his statements directly after emerging from the meeting with Robert Zoellick, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State. The two met on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Egyptian resort of Sharm Al Sheikh.
Abbas added that he ordered an investigation into the explosion.
Meanwhile, Ismail Haniyya, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Hamas, has cancelled all of his appointments for Saturday and formed a special committee to investigate the attack, said Ghazi Hamad, Palestinian government spokesperson.
Hamad added that the government will not make early judgments, accusations or responses that could lead to further tension in the Palestinian streets. He also said that there is “an apparent anticipation that Hamas is being held responsible”.
Also, a senior Palestinian intelligence officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that the P.A is launching an investigation.
Spokesperson of the Palestinian Interior Ministry, controlled by Hamas, suggested that the explosion took place by accident when one of Abu Rajab’s bodyguards dropped a hand grenade.
