Hamas names suspect in Palestinian prime minister assassination attempt

A "high-level investigative committee" into the bomb attack was launched according to the interior ministry in Gaza after the attack.

The interior ministry in Gaza on Wednesday said it was searching for Anas abu Koussa, born in 1993, describing him as the lead suspect.

It did not give a possible motive for the attack on Hamdallah, head of government in President Mahmoud Abbas' Palestinian Authority.

A Hamas security source said investigators had arrested and were questioning three people, including two members of the PA-run intelligence services.

Another security source said he believed radical Salafi Muslims had planted the bomb, which lightly injured six people.

The blast targeting Hamdallah's convoy, delivered a further blow to the faltering reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah.

Witnesses told al-Araby al-Jadeed that an explosion had occurred on the road where the convoy of Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah had passed just moments earlier.

According to the reports, a roadside bomb exploded less than a kilometre after the convoy left the Beit Hanoun Erez crossing to the north.

Hamdallah was not injured in the explosion which occurred shortly after his convoy entered for a rare visit to the Gaza Strip. However, shrapnel did hit a car, and six guards were wounded.

The convoy was also fired on by unknown gunmen at the time of the explosion. Hamas security forces then sealed off the area.

Hamas reportedly informed Hamdallah's government that there were two 15kg bombs, the second of which was planted 30 metres away, but failed to explode.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although three suspects were arrested. No further details on the investigation have been released, nor the identity of the suspects.

Official Palestinian media released a statement saying Abbas considered it a "cowardly targeting" of Hamdallah's convoy, holding the Palestinian group Hamas - which controls Gaza - responsible.

Hamas - who condemned the attack - have criticised Abbas' accusation saying it "achieved the goals of the criminals".

A senior official told AFP on condition of anonymity that Abbas decided no members of Hamdallah's government would travel to Gaza in the short term "due to the security problems".

A number of officials have been travelling to the enclave in recent months to discuss reconciliation.

An Egyptian-brokered agreement in early October set 10 December for the transfer of power from Hamas to the Palestinian Authority.

Hamas claimed that all control of government ministries had been handed over to the PA, however, the situation in Gaza remains unchanged.

Tuesday's explosion has only further exacerbated tensions.

Hamdallah said the attack would not end his government's commitment to continue with reconciliation and again called on Hamas to hand over all power in Gaza.

"We are talking about internal security - the police and the civil defence," he said. "Without security there won't be a government."