At least 19 killed in Hamas rally explosion in Gaza

By Amos Harel and Arnon regular, Haaretz Correspondents and News Agencies A series of large explosions erupted at a Hamas rally in Gaza City on Friday, killing at least 19 Palestinians and wounding 80. Hospital sources said that the dead included two children and several gunmen. Hamas reported that three of its militants were killed in the explosions, including As’ad Rian, the brother of Nizar Rian, a senior member of the Hamas political wing. The explosions were believed to have been set off when a pickup truck carrying masked militants and laden with weapons blew up. Palestinian security officials said the blast was apparently caused by the mishandling of explosives. But in a press conference several hours after the incident, Hamas officials claimed that the rockets displayed during the rally were dummies that did not contain explosives. They also slammed the Palestinian Authority for blaming Hamas for the blasts. The speakers at the press conference included Nizar Rian and Ahmed Randur, the leader of the Hamas militant wing in the Gaza Strip who organized the rally and who had been reported injured in the blasts. They presented an electronic component which they claimed was found on the body of one of the dead. The chip, they claimed, strengthened their claim that Israeli missiles targeted the vehicle. Sources in Hamas claimed that an Israeli drone flying over the area fired several missiles at the rally. Randur and Rian vowed Hamas „will find the right reat the right time.” Israel Defense Forces officials denied involvement in the incident, which took place only hours after Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza Strip fired several Qassam rockets at Israel, causing no injuries or damage. Witnesses pulled body parts out of a vehicle that appeared to have been destroyed by the blast. A large plume of white smoke rose over the large crowd. During the rally, Hamas paraded with homemade weapons and explosives. Thousands of Palestinians at the rally, sponsored by the Hamas militant group and attended by some of its top commanders, stormed into the streets of the camp, shouting and carrying the wounded. The incident took place a day after Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas met with leaders of Palestinian factions in the Strip who agreed to cease holding military parades in Gaza. The decision was due to be implemented as of Saturday. In the past, there have been several ‘work accidents’ caused by premature explosions while Palestinian militants were preparing bombs. BPI-info