*UPDATES WITH HAMAS, INTERIOR MINISTRY STATEMENTS
By Mohamed Majed
GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The head of the Gaza Strip’s Hamas-run security apparatus survived an assassination attempt on Friday, according to Gaza’s Interior Ministry.
In a statement, the ministry said that Tawfiq Abu Naim had been “moderately injured” in an assassination attempt and was receiving treatment at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital.
“The security services have since launched an investigation to determine the circumstances of the incident and find the perpetrators,” the statement read.
A local security source, speaking anonymously due to the issue’s sensitivity, told Anadolu Agency that Abu Naim had been injured when a bomb planted in his car exploded following Friday prayers.
In a subsequent statement, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum described Friday’s assassination bid as a “cowardly act” committed by “the enemies of the Palestinian people”.
“The would-be assassins failed in their effort to harm Gaza’s security, the unity of our people, and the [Palestinian] national interest,” Barhoum declared.
He went on to urge Gaza’s security apparatus to “bring the criminals to justice and act firmly with those who would try to harm our people’s security”.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing.