The head of an umbrella group of militant factions was wounded in an Israeli missile strike in the southern Gaza Strip today, according to witnesses.
Palestinians check the damage to the car of militant leader Jamal Abu Samhadana after an Israeli missile strike in the Gaza strip.
Jamal Abu Samahdna, leader of the Popular Resistance Committees, was the apparent target, militants said.
The attack wounded Samahdna and two of his bodyguards, according to the group.
Palestinian security sources said an unmanned Israeli drone plane launched one missile at Abu Samahdna's car as it travelled between Rafah and Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Abu Samahdna (42) has survived three previous Israeli attacks. His group has carried out attacks on soldiers and settlers and has been behind the destruction of several combat tanks with improvised mines during a Palestinian uprising.
The attack was the first Israeli air-strike against militants in weeks. Israel has said it would refrain from carrying out offensive operations - unless it was attacked or had information of an imminent attack - in an effort to ensure calm in the run-up to January 9th Palestinian elections.