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Imad al-Alami: Hamas official shot in head in Gaza 'accident' | Imad al-Alami: Hamas official shot in head in Gaza 'accident' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A senior Hamas figure in Gaza has been shot in the head in what the militant Palestinian group says was an accident. | A senior Hamas figure in Gaza has been shot in the head in what the militant Palestinian group says was an accident. |
Imad al-Alami shot himself while "inspecting his personal weapon in his home" and was in a critical condition, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. | Imad al-Alami shot himself while "inspecting his personal weapon in his home" and was in a critical condition, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. |
Medical sources say Mr Alami, a former member of Hamas's political bureau who has close ties to Iran, is being treated at a hospital in Gaza City. | Medical sources say Mr Alami, a former member of Hamas's political bureau who has close ties to Iran, is being treated at a hospital in Gaza City. |
There was no independent confirmation of the circumstances of the incident. | There was no independent confirmation of the circumstances of the incident. |
Some initial reports suggested it might have been an assassination attempt. | Some initial reports suggested it might have been an assassination attempt. |
Mr Alami, who is reportedly in his 60s and is also known as Abu Hamam, was one of the founders of Hamas. | |
In 2003, the US declared him a "specially designated global terrorist". | In 2003, the US declared him a "specially designated global terrorist". |
It identified him as a member of the Hamas political bureau based in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and said he had oversight responsibility for the group's military wing in Gaza and the West Bank. | It identified him as a member of the Hamas political bureau based in the Syrian capital, Damascus, and said he had oversight responsibility for the group's military wing in Gaza and the West Bank. |
Mr Alami also served for years as Hamas's main envoy to Iran, the group's main military and financial backer, according to the Times of Israel. | Mr Alami also served for years as Hamas's main envoy to Iran, the group's main military and financial backer, according to the Times of Israel. |
The newspaper says he left Damascus for Gaza in 2012 - a year after the start of the war in Syria, in which Hamas leaders expressed their support for forces fighting Iran's ally President Bashar al-Assad. | The newspaper says he left Damascus for Gaza in 2012 - a year after the start of the war in Syria, in which Hamas leaders expressed their support for forces fighting Iran's ally President Bashar al-Assad. |
Mr Alani was then elected deputy leader in Gaza, a position he held until last year. | Mr Alani was then elected deputy leader in Gaza, a position he held until last year. |
During that time he largely stayed out of the press but he is known to have taken part in talks over a ceasefire with Israel and the release of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, as well as efforts aimed at mending ties with Egypt and the other main Palestinian faction, Fatah. | During that time he largely stayed out of the press but he is known to have taken part in talks over a ceasefire with Israel and the release of the captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, as well as efforts aimed at mending ties with Egypt and the other main Palestinian faction, Fatah. |
In 2014, Mr Alami is reported to have suffered serious wounds to his leg, for which he had to undergo surgery in Turkey. | In 2014, Mr Alami is reported to have suffered serious wounds to his leg, for which he had to undergo surgery in Turkey. |
There were rumours that he was hurt in a clash between Hamas members, but the group insisted the wound was the result of an Israeli air strike during a conflict that year between Israel and militants in Gaza. | There were rumours that he was hurt in a clash between Hamas members, but the group insisted the wound was the result of an Israeli air strike during a conflict that year between Israel and militants in Gaza. |
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