The Mayor of Rafah, the Gaza Strip town now bisected by the Israel-Egypt border, was murdered Friday night as he was returning home from a nearby mosque after Friday prayers. Four men have reportedly been detained for questioning. Abdul-Hamid Kishta, 54, died in the hospital shortly after the attack. Kishta’s family said he had been loved by all the townspeople, and they could think of no reason for the murder.
But Damascus Radio said he had been killed because he had collaborated with the Israeli authorities. The radio said PLO members had carried out the assassination. Special security measures were taken in the town during his funeral there today.
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