Hamas closes Qatari cell provider in Gaza over Hamdallah's attack

(MENAFN) The offices of a Qatari-Palestinian cellular provider have been closed by Gaza's Hamas rulers over its connection with its investigation into an explosion that targeted the visiting Palestinian prime minister.

Hamas police spokesman Ayman Batniji said Saturday that Wataniya Mobile, a subsidiary of Qatar's Ooredoo, was being closed down for "refusing to cooperate" in the inquiry.

Earlier this week, a roadside bomb hit a convoy carrying Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah after he crossed into Gaza from Israel, wounding some of his bodyguards. Local reports say a second bomb that failed to detonate contained a Wataniya SIM card.

Hamdallah's West Bank-based Palestinian Authority held Hamas responsible for the attack.

Denying the allegations, Hamas, for its part, which overthrew PA forces in 2007 to seize control of Gaza, appears to be looking to shift blame to others.

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