Image by Getty Images

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Hamas blamed Israel for an apparent assassination attempt on Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah shortly after he entered Gaza for the inauguration of a wastewater treatment plant.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s office initially announced that it held Hamas responsible for the Tuesday morning attack, which it said “directly serves the interest of the Israeli occupation, the main beneficiary from the division” of the West Bank under PA rule and Gaza under Hamas rule.

Later on Tuesday, Hamdallah spoke with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, and agreed that Israel and its collaborators were responsible for the attack, Haaretz reported.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Hamdallah and PA intelligence chief Majid Faraj were not injured in the explosion, which wounded several others. Three cars in the convoy also were damaged. The visit to Gaza was planned five months ago, according to Haaretz.

Hamdallah said the incident would not prevent him from pursuing unity and reconciliation with Hamas. “I will return to Gaza despite what happened today and I call on Hamas to allow the government to effectively control the Gaza Strip. What happened today will not stop us from continuing reconciliation efforts,” he said. He also said: “We will not allow those with a foreign political agenda to dictate to us what happens in Gaza.”

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount