Five car bomb explosions target Hamas, Islamic Jihad in Gaza

Unidentified men blew up a number of cars belonging to members of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in Gaza City through improvised explosive devices, according to eyewitnesses.

Eyewitnesses in Gaza City said the attackers detonated three cars belonging to the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, and two cars belonging to Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Jihad.

The cars were located near to their owners’ houses and did not lead to any casualties.

They added that the explosions took place at the same time in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, northern Gaza City, and that the cars all caught fire.

The eyewitnesses said that one of the houses near one of the targeted cars caught fire. The Ministry of Health did not announce any casualties following the explosions.

Security forces and rescue teams rushed to the scene and began to investigate the incident.

The Palestinian Ministry of Interior announced that they were in pursuit of the perpetrators.

“Security services have begun an investigation into the incident and we are working to track down the perpetrators of the explosions,” Interior Ministry spokesman Iyad al-Bazm said in a press release. “We affirm that the criminals will not escape with their crimes.”

The press release did not point the finger of blame in any direction, but previous similar incidents have been blamed on extremist groups who have announced their allegiance to ISIS, which has tense relations with Hamas, which still controls the Gaza Strip.

Security services from the Interior Ministry have launched a campaign of arrests among the ranks of ISIS-aligned groups, saying that they are “outside the law” and work to create “instability” in the Gaza Strip and hold takfiri views.

A ISIS video released on June 30, 2015, threatened Hamas and pledged to bring down its government in Gaza.

Images by MEMO Photographer Mohammed Asad.