Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi died Saturday from his wounds after Israel blew up his car in Gaza City, Palestinian medical sources said.

Two of Rantisi's bodyguards were also killed and five bystanders were wounded in the attack, the sources at Shiffa Hospital in the city said.

Rantisi was critically wounded in the attack and died from his wounds shortly after he was taken to the hospital, they added.

Witnesses said that Rantisi was in a local Subaru car with two of his bodyguards as they drove in Al-Jalla Street. Suddenly a huge explosion was heard and dozens of people rushed to the car.

The people and medics took two bodies from the car and Rantisi was in critical condition, the witnesses said, adding that the bodies of the two bodyguards were also taken to Shiffa Hospital.

Hundreds of Palestinians gathered around the car and condemned Israel for assassinating Rantisi, who was nominated as the new Hamas leader after the founder of the movement, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on March 22.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2004)