GAZA, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades, the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, said it fired rockets at Gaza settlements Thursday.
A statement said the Palestinian militants fired five locally-made "al-Mustafa rockets" at the settlements of Jani Taal and Nitser Hazani near the city of Khan Younes in southern Gaza, inflicting damage and casualties.
"The operation marks the 37th anniversary of the PFLP's founding and aims at reaffirming the resistance until occupation is defeated," the statement said.
Earlier Thursday, Popular Resistance Committees commander Jamal Abu Samhadana escaped an assassination attempt by Israel in Gaza.
The Popular Resistance Committees was formed at the start of the Palestinian intifada in late September 2000 to attack Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers.
Palestinian witnesses said Abu Samhadana and three other militants were in a car heading east from Rafah in southern Gaza when an Israeli drone fired a missile at car.
The witnesses said the militants managed to jump from the vehicle before the missile hit. Abu Samhadana was taken from the scene to an undisclosed location while his three companions were hospitalized for treatment.
Palestinian medics at the European Hospital in Rafah said the three suffered moderate injuries.
Israeli defense sources say they suspect Abu Samhadana's group was involved in planting a bomb that killed three U.S. Embassy security personnel on their way to Gaza in October 2003 and that Hamas has been using his organization to fire rockets into Israel, Ha'aretz reported. The Israel Defense Forces spokesman declined comment.
