Assailants attack senior Hamas official in West Bank
Unidentified attackers assault Wasfi Qabaha, a former minister for Palestinian prisoners’ affairs, in his car near Jenin.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEH A Palestinian flag flutters above members of the Hamas security forces.(photo credit: REUTERS)
Unidentified assailants on Wednesday attacked a senior Hamas representative in the West Bank and injured him moderately.Wasfi Qabaha, a former minister for prisoners’ affairs from Jenin, was attacked while driving his car to the village of Kfirit west of Jenin.The attackers stopped his car near the village of Burqin and physically assaulted him, breaking his left arm and injuring him on the head.He said that the attackers also threw stones at his father after pulling him out of the car by force.His son, Osama, said that his father was on his way to participate in a rally honoring Abdullah Ighbariyeh, who was released from Israeli prison after serving an 11-year sentence.“When my father refused to get out of the car, the masked men attacked him with clubs and damaged the vehicle,” the son said. Some of the attackers were carrying pistols, One of the attackers was carrying pistols, he added.Qabaha, 53, was transferred to a hospital in Jenin.Three months ago, Qabaha’s car was vandalized outside his home in Jenin.No group claimed responsibility for the two attacks.Qabaha has been critical of the PA leadership and has frequently denounced the current peace talks with Israel. He has also condemned the continued crackdown by the PA security forces on Hamas supporters in the West Bank.Hamas strongly condemned the assault on its top representative.Abdel Aziz dweik, another top Hamas official in the West Bank, said the attack was carried out by “outlaws whose goal is to destabilize the internal front.”Dweik said that such assaults only serve Israel’s interest.
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