Senior Hamas figure shot dead by gunmen in W. Bank: Witnesses

Unknown gunmen have shot dead a senior Islamic Hamas member on Wednesday morning in the West Bank town of Qalqilya and fled the scene, witnesses and local sources said.

They added that Mohammed Ouda, 37, was walking to the mosque when a van, carrying four masked militants, got near him and the gunmen opened fire at Ouda before they escaped the scene. Medics said Ouda died with a gunshot in the heart.

The assassination came one day after al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an offshoot of President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, threatened to kill Hamas leaders in response to the deadly clashes erupted two days ago in Gaza between Hamas forces and striking security members loyal to Abbas.

Despite an Israeli army spokesman denied any involvement by the army in this incident, local residents said the gunmen were elite Israeli forces, adding the white van was holding Israeli license plates.

A few hours later, Israeli forces stormed the city and arrested a 17-year-old Palestinian. Nine other Palestinians, termed "wanted" by Israel, were also arrested across West Bank cities and villages.

Source: Xinhua