An explosion at the wedding ceremony of Mahmoud Dahlan Tuesday night in the Southern Gazan city of Khan Younis left at least 60 Palestinians wounded, Palestinian paramedics said.Palestinian medical sources said the wounded were evacuated to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis following the explosion.
Witnesses said a grenade or explosive charge detonated just before midnight at the wedding of the nephew of former Palestinian Authority security chief Mohammad Dahlan. The explosion took place as Dahlan, an officer in the Preventive Security Service, was stepping on the state.
Palestinian police in Gaza, which belong to Hamas, launched an investigation into the explosion, tough Fatah officials have accused Hamas members of undertaking the attack.
Responding to the accusation, a Hamas security source told Israeli newspaper Yedioth Aronoth, “Hamas has nothing to do with this.”
Ihabal Ghissin, spokesman for the Hamas interior ministry, blamed the exposition on a percussion grenade that caused a stage collapse. He added that fireworks and torches, which are illegal in Gaza, were also used and could have played a role in the explosion.
Mohammad Dalhna was the former Fatah member in charge of the Gaza Palestinian Authority security. He has been at odds with Hamas for years. In June 2007, Hamas expelled his forces in fighting that left Hamas in control of the Gaza strip.
Ariel Goldring
