Ismail Haniyeh
Ismail HaniyehReuters

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh on Friday accused Israel of being behind an attempt to eliminate Tawfiq Abu Naim, the deputy head of Gaza's security forces.

Abu Naim was wounded when an explosive placed near his car went off after he exited a mosque in the Nusseirat refugee camp.

He was transferred to the Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital in Khan Yunis.

"Whoever was behind this crime, we think it is the occupier and its followers who are responsible," Haniyeh said later on Friday, according to AFP. The term "occupier" is commonly used by Palestinian Arabs for Israel.

"Anyone who believes that this criminal operation can alter our resolve to achieve Palestinian national reconciliation is wrong," Haniyeh stressed.

Abu Naim is the second Hamas leader to be targeted this year in Gaza, after military commander Mazen Faqha was shot dead near his home in March.

Hamas authorities in Gaza accused Israel of being behind his death immediately after it happened, and threatened to get Israel back for any action by Israeli security forces against Hamas senior officials.

In May, Hamas executed three men who were convicted of carrying out the assassination on behalf of Israel, which never confirmed or denied any involvement.

(Arutz Sheva’s North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Arutz Sheva articles, however, is Israeli time.)