Gaza: 3 dead in riots following terrorist's death

The Palestinians blamed Israel for the explosion, but IDF sources denied any involvement.

Following the lethal blast riots and exchanges of fire erupted between Palestinian security forces and members of the Popular Resistance Committees; three people were killed and some 25 gunmen and security officers were injured in the clashes, some severely.

Popular Resistance Committees members accuse the Palestinian security forces of collaborating with Israel.

The target of the explosion was Khalil al-Quqa, commander of the Salah e-Din Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees. Al-Quqa’s son said the shirt taken off the dead body belongs to his father.

Al-Quqa's white Subaru on fire after the blast (Photo: AP)

The Popular Resistance Committees initially refused to confirm whether their commander has been killed, but later vowed to avenge their commander's death.

Hundreds gathered near the blazing white Subaru in which al-Quqa and another passenger had been. Gunmen affiliated with the Popular Resistance Committees marched in Gaza city and called for revenge.

Firing shots in the air, gunmen said: “Israel will be attacked with a barrage of rockets in the coming hours.” The said “Israel killed him and it will ay for this.”

The spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees Abu Abir told Ynet that his group’s response will be “painful and unprecedented on every level.”

This is not the first time that the IDF attempts to assassinate al-Quqa who is considered as one of the most wanted military commanders in the Gaza Strip.

He was responsible for cells that fire Qassam rockets at southern Israel. He dispatched a cell to the West Bank to teach terrorists there how to make and launch Qassam rockets. Another cell was caught near Bethlehem few weeks ago.

'Islamic Jihad looking to replace Hamas'

The Popular Resistance Committee was set up by former members of Fatah and other factions.

The groups is considered as Hamas’ satellite organization and supported Hamas’ in the elections to the Palestinian parliament. The group is headed by Jamal Abu-Samahadneh, of the Samahadneh clan which controls the southern and central parts of the Gaza Strip. He has been on the IDF’s wanted list since the first intifada.

The terror attack in Kedumim, in which four Israelis lost their lives, marled the awakening of the terrorist organizations in the West Bank. The security establishment holds 73 general terror warning, 10 of them specific. As a result, the IDF has tightened its siege of Nablus, and the complete closure imposed on Gaza and the West Bank will remain in effect until further notice.

Palestinians attempting to leave Jenin and Tul Karm are subjected to a full inspection, and the IDF has decided to prohibit men aged 16 to 32 from leaving the cities, as opposed to prohibiting only those aged 25 or under from leaving.

Northern West Bank terror groups have been working for some time now to carry out attacks in Israel, causing Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz to instruct the security establishment to step up its anti-terror activity.

“Islamic Jihad is looking to replace Hamas, which is trying to keep a low profile,” and IDF source told Ynet. “Fatah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine are also increasing their activity.”

Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report