JERUSALEM, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Dozens of gunmen who claimed to be members of al-Qaida blew up a reception hall at Gaza beach resort popular with Israeli tourists.
No casualties were reported. It's off-season and the resort was empty of customers.
The Jerusalem Post reported that the director of the resort, Yousef Sari, said the gunmen indicated the attack was aimed at a close ally of moderate Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Mohammed Dahlan, Dahlan is rumored to own the resort.
"Tell Dahlan al-Qaida has arrived in Gaza and his property and assets are targets," the resort director quoted the gunman.
The attack comes amid tensions between Abbas' Fatah and the more militant Hamas organization, which won control of parliament.
Israel warned that al-Qaida would try to infiltrate the Gaza Strip, but Palestinian security officials said there is no evidence the group is operating in the territory.
Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005.
