Gunmen shot dead a judge from the governing Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Reuters reported. Hamas officials and residents said Bassam al-Fara was a judge in an Islamic court but also a senior member of the movement's armed wing.
Witnesses said four gunmen ambushed al-Fara, opening fire as he emerged from his car and started walking into the courthouse. Hospital officials said al-Fara's body was riddled with several bullets.
No one claimed responsibility for the attack, which Hamas called an "assassination". Hamas held the so-called "Death Squad", affiliated with the PA preventive security apparatus, responsible for the assassination of the judge, affirming that the culprits would be punished.
The Movement, in a statement on the issue, said that the strife-mongers were once again trying to ignite discord in the Palestinian society via "dirty crimes that reflect cheap behavior and total lack of national responsibility in addition to a black desire to spread tension and mix cards in the Palestinian arena".
It said that the series of murders and aggressions perpetrated by this "suspicious group" pointed to the "bleak era" to which this group was trying to push the Palestinian people into.
The Movement asserted that the attacks targeting Hamas leaders and cadres were an "exposed attempt" to escalate the security mess.
It said that the "ferocious campaign against the Palestinian government and trying to hold it responsible for the security mess should come to an immediate halt."
On its part, the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas vowed to chase and bring to justice the killers of Al-Farra.
