Imad al-Alami, one of the founders of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, died today about three weeks after suffering a gunshot wound to the head.

A Hamas spokesman said at the time that al-Alami accidentally fired his weapon while inspecting it on Jan. 9, according to The Times of Israel.



Some experts have questioned that account, according to The Jerusalem Post, and speculated that a rival Hamas member may have shot him.



Al-Alami was 62, the Post said. He was regarded as a hard-liner and a supporter of Hamas' ties to Iran. He was trained as an engineer and was Hamas' first representative in Tehran, Iran.



He later spent time in Damascus, Syria before returning to Gaza in 2012. He was elected as deputy Hamas chief in Gaza in 2013, according to the Post.



Hundreds took part in a funeral procession for al-Alami in Gaza City, including several Hamas leaders, according to the Post.



The Times of Israel reported that al-Alami generally stayed out of the spotlight and was not active on social media, unlike some other Hamas leaders.



He was arrested by Israeli security forces for carrying out terror activities in 1991 and deported from Gaza, according to the Times. Hamas now controls Gaza.



Al-Alami died at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where he had been receiving treatment since the shooting, the Post said.

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