The head of the Gaza Strip's Hamas-run security apparatus survived an assassination attempt on Friday, according to the Hamas interior ministry.

"Tawfiq Abu Naim, director general of the internal security forces, survived a failed assassination attempt Friday after his car was blown up in the Nusseirat refugee camp," a ministry statement said.

"He was moderately wounded and was treated in hospital," it added. "The security services immediately began investigations to discover the circumstances of the incident and to catch the perpetrators."

The incident comes at a time of tension within Gaza as its Hamas rulers are to start handing over power to the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority of Fatah leader and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

The rival Palestinian movements signed a landmark unity deal this month aimed at ending their decade-long split.

The PA is due to resume control of the Gaza Strip by December 1 under the deal.

Hamas has faced increasing isolation and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip in recent months, including a severe electricity shortage due to Israeli blockade.