Last week, Palestinian militants attacked the convoy of Brigadier Tareq Abu Rajab, deputy chief of the Palestinian security intelligence in the Gaza Strip, in northern Gaza City.

   The attack seriously wounded Abu Rajab and killed two of hisarmed bodyguards.

   PNA official sources said that the PNA accused three Hamas members of trying to assassinate Abu Rajab.

   The three Hamas militants are hiding in Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, said the security sources, adding that they are under the protection of Hamas.

   Amin Al Hindi, chief of the Palestinian intelligence service,said at a press conference that the attackers should face punishment and urged Hamas to hand them over.

   "The attackers deserve punishment whoever they are and whoever they belong to," said Al Hindi.

   Hamas has not claimed responsibility for the attack and a senior Hamas leader based in Damascus denied any Hamas involvement in the attack on Abu Rajab.

   "If it was proved that the attackers belong to Hamas, the movement will punish them," Khaled Mash'al said, stressing that "Hamas didn't give the order to assassinate Abu Rajab."  Enditem