Militants blow up ATM of Bank of Palestine in Gaza

Anonymous militants blew up and destroyed on Friday night the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the Bank of Palestine in Gaza city's downtown, the police said.

Eyad al-Bozom, spokesman of the Gaza-based ministry of interior, said in a press statement that no injuries were reported and the police in Gaza have launched investigation on the attack.

Witnesses and security sources said that a huge explosion wrecked two ATM machines placed outside the main branch of Bank of Palestine and completely destroyed it.

Meanwhile, security sources said that the militants also destroyed the outside cameras which belong to the branch of Bank of Palestine in the town of Deit el-Ballah in central Gaza Strip.

Al-Bozom condemned the two attacks on the branches of the bank, adding that police and security forces are investigating the incidents.

Hamas slammed the unity government because it has been unable to pay the salaries of around 45,000 employees who were employed after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007.

Last July, banks in the Gaza Strip closed down for six days following massive protests by employees who demanded the unity government to immediately pay them their monthly salaries.