A large explosion struck a Hamas compound in central Gaza City Thursday, wounding at least five people, Palestinian witnesses and medical officials said. The Israeli army confirmed that it carried out an airstrike against the installation. Israel has threatened "harsh" action in response to repeated Palestinian rocket attacks.
The explosion sent heavy plumes of smoke into the Gaza sky, destroying the structure and several other around it and sending terrified residents scurrying. Hamas said the target of the strike was an administration building of its bodyguards unit.
Gunfire erupted at a Hamas funeral procession earlier Thursday, killing two people and wounding 14 others, Palestinian medical officials said. It was unclear who fired the bullets, but the unrest threatened to unravel a lull in the fighting.
Meanwhile, Hamas said one of its men was kidnapped and executed by security forces loyal to the rival Fatah movement. |