On the evening of December 10, 2021 there was an explosion in the Burj al-Shemali Palestinian refugee camp east of Tyre in south Lebanon. The media in Tyre reported it had taken place in a storeroom under a mosque, damaging the mosque and nearby structures. The Lebanese National News Agency reported the blast had killed and wounded several people (Lebanese National News Agency, December 10, 2021).
Investigation determined the explosion had taken place in a weapons storehouse situated under the Hamas-controlled Ubai Bin Kaab mosque. Hamas later issued its official version, according to which an investigation showed it was the result of “an electrical short circuit in a warehouse containing a large quantity of oxygen tanks and disinfectants,” which would be distributed to help combat the coronavirus. Hamas denied the reports of an explosion in a weapons storehouse.
A short time after Hamas issued its official version, it issued a mourning notice for Hamza Shahin, an engineer and operative in Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, who had been killed in “a jihad training and combat-preparation mission” (Hamas Telegram channel, December 10, 2021). Isma’il Haniyeh, head of Hamas’ political bureau, paid a condolence call to the Shahin family’s mourning tent (Hamas website, December 12, 2021). A mass funeral was held in the refugee camp, which was attended by Hamas leadership members Usama Hamedan, Izzat al-Rishq, Husam Badran and Zaher Jabarin (Arabicpost, December 12, 2021). Shots were fired at the mourners, killing and wounding several including a senior Hamas figure who was slightly injured. Hamas accused the Fatah security forces.
The circumstances of Hamza Shahin’s death were not revealed. He was apparently a senior operative in Hamas’ military-terrorist network in the refugee camp. Hamas’ public acknowledgement of his being an operative in its military-terrorist wing and his death during “a jihad training and combat-preparation mission,” as well as the attendance of members of the Hamas leadership at his funeral and Isma’il Haniyeh’s condolence call give witness to his high rank.
more on: https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/app/uploads/2021/12/E_189_21.pdf