Gaza suicide bomber believed to be son of prominent Islamic Jihad family

The son of a leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group is believed to be behind the bombings that killed three Hamas policeman in Gaza City on Tuesday, Palestinian sources told i24NEWS Arabic.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, declared a state of emergency and mobilized forces in a massive manhunt to apprehend suspects behind the midnight attack at two separate police checkpoints inside the coastal enclave.

Hamas security forces in Gaza reportedly believe that two suicide bombers linked to groups affiliated with or “sympathetic” to the Islamic State group were responsible for the deadly attack.

Sources in Gaza said that one of the culprits – a suicide bomber identified as “AGH” – was the son of a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad member.

The assailant was said to be active in the ranks of the terrorist group, but it is not clear if he also had links with extreme Salafi groups or ISIS.

His brother was a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s military wing who was killed by Israel in 2012 for firing rockets from the Gaza Strip, according to various sources.

Source: Israel Hayom