Commander of Hamas' internal security forces in Gaza, Tawfiq Abu Naim, was wounded on Friday when his vehicle was targetted in an "explosion," according to Iyad Dozm, the spokesperson of the Hamas-run Interior Ministry in Gaza.

In what appeared to be an assassination attempt, men reportedly shot at Naim as he was leaving Friday prayers in a mosque in Nuseirat Camp.

Several others were also reportedly injured, and Naim was evacuated to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, Palestinian Information Center, a Hamas-linked news site, reported.

Spokesperson of Hamas' interior ministry, Eyad Buzom, said that an investigation was opened immediately in order to get the details of the accident, and to arrest the criminals.

 In a Hamas statement issued after the shooting, “enemies of the Palestinian nation” were blamed

“The attempted assassination is a cowardly act of the enemies of the Palestinian nation and national enemies,” the statement read.

“This is an assault on Gaza’s security, its stability and the unity of the nation and the national reconciliation,” it continued. “The security apparatus and the Interior Ministry must pursue these criminals, trap them and put them on trial. They must use an iron fist against anyone who plans to harm the security of our people and our stability.”

No information has been reported about who might have done it although the accident comes at a sensitive time, as the two rival parties of Fatah and Hamas have finally reached a reconciliation agreement earlier this month.

Fatah also condemned the attack and described it as an attempt to undermine the recent reconciliation deal between the PA and Hamas.