Hamas: Top official in Gaza dies after mysterious shooting

Flag of the Gaza Strip (Photo By Orionist, previous versions by Makaristos, Mysid, etc. – Own work. Based on Law No. 5 for the year 2006 amending some provisions of Law No. 22 for the year 2005 on the Sanctity of the Palestinian Flag, Public Domain)

GAZA, Palestinian Territory — Hamas says one of its senior officials has died, three weeks after accidentally shooting himself while cleaning his weapon in Gaza.

Spokesman Hazem Qassem said on Tuesday that Imad al-Alami had been unconscious since the Jan. 9 shooting.

Hamas initially hastily announced al-Alami died naturally but later said he shot himself while checking his weapon at his Gaza City home and was in critical condition.

The 62-year-old al-Alami held several key posts as a member of Hamas’ policy-making body and lived in Syria before returning to Gaza in 2012. He remained a prominent official though not a member of the current politburo.

After the 2014 Israel-Hamas war, he travelled to Turkey for treatment for an injury in which he lost a leg. Hamas said he was wounded in the war.