A top Hamas terrorist has been killed by a car bomb in Damascus, Syria.

A car bomb exploded in Damascus on Sunday, killing a top Hamas leader Izz El-Deen Al-Sheikh Khalil, Israeli security sources said speaking on condition of anonymity.

According to media reports, Hamas officials are blaming Israel for the assassination.

The Associated Press Jerusalem bureau reported that anonymous Israeli security officials acknowledged the Jewish state was involved in the assassination, a claim not backed up by sources in the Ministry of Defense, the Prime Minister’s Office and the Israel Defense Forces.

Israel Radio reported that Israeli officials learned of Khalil’s death through the media.