Three Hamas members reported killed in three days

October 16, 2001 Posted: 1:38 PM EDT (1738 GMT)

RAFAH, Gaza (CNN) -- A man who died Tuesday when an explosive device went off inside his house in Rafah was the third member of Hamas killed in three days, according to Palestinian sources.

Tuesday's victim was identified as Iyad al Akhras, 28. Hamas said al Akhras' death was an Israeli assassination. The Israel Defense Forces had no comment.

The blast came a day after Palestinian sources told CNN that a member of Hamas was killed in a car bomb explosion. That explosion happened Monday in the West Bank town of Nablus, near offices that house Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Palestinian security sources said. The victim was identified by the Red Crescent as Ahmad Marshoud.

Palestinian officials said Abed Rahman Hamad, 33 -- another Hamas member -- was shot dead Sunday by snipers at his home.

Israel Defense Forces say Hamad was a "known terrorist" who had planned a series of attacks against Israel and was planning another attack.

-- Anonymous, October 16, 2001