Special to WorldTribune.com

GAZA CITY — The heart of the Hamas regime has been rocked by a series of explosions.

The French Cultural Center in Gaza Strip was damaged by at least two explosions on late Oct. 7. The bombings sparked a huge blaze that took Hamas firefighters into early Oct. 8 to control.

“There was nobody in the building, but this appeared to be a message to France by the Takfiris,” a source, referring to Al Qaida-aligned insurgents, said.

The source said Hamas authorities believed the bombings were the work of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. ISIL has threatened to attack the interests of the U.S.-led coalition that was bombing the movement’s strongholds in Iraq and Syria.

Hamas has not confirmed that the cultural center, operated by the French consulate in Jerusalem, was targeted by ISIL.

An Interior Ministry spokesman said the fire was the result of gasoline containers, and termed the incident “criminal.”

Palestinian sources have reported an increasing presence of ISIL in the Gaza Strip. They said ISIL-aligned forces claimed responsibility for firing missiles and rockets into Israel during the 50-day war in July and August 2014.

“This is the first time the center has been attacked,” the source said.

  Bombing of French Cultural Center in Gaza City seen as ISIL retaliation, Gaza Strip, Takfiris