A rchive Date
[ 22-08-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ Palestine ]
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[http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2003/08/21/165677-ap.html
Israeli strike kills senior Hamas official
Thu, August 21, 2003
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - An Israeli helicopter fired five missiles at the car of a senior Hamas official Thursday, killing him and two bodyguards, the Islamic militant group said.
Hamas threatened retaliation, saying it no longer felt bound by a three-month unilateral ceasefire it declared June 29. Two days earlier, Hamas had carried out a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, killing 20 people.
But Hamas insisted at the time it was still observing the truce, saying the suicide bombing was in retaliation for Israeli attacks that killed several of its members.
"(Now) We consider ourselves free from this ceasefire," said a Hamas official, Ibrahim Hanieh.
The Hamas official killed in the missile strike was identified as Ismail Abu Shanab.
There was no immediate comment by the Israeli military. In the past, Israel has repeatedly killed Palestinians resistance leaders in targeted missile attacks. Israel had suspended the practice after militants declared the truce.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry official, Gideon Meir, said the Hamas political leaders were behind attacks on Israelis and must be held accountable, but would not say explicitly that Israel was behind the missile strike.
"There's no question that there is a direct link between the heads of Hamas and the terrorists on the ground," he said.
Witnesses said Abu Shanab's gold-coloured station wagon was driving in the Rimal neighbourhood and had slowed down to avoid a large stone in the road when a first missile struck the front of the vehicle. A second missile quickly followed, said Naim Shaban, who owns a metal workshop nearby.
"I threw myself under a table in my shop, and the explosions continued," said Shaban. "Flames were coming from everywhere. When it stopped, I saw one helicopter turning west, toward the sea. I rushed to the car, and saw people burning inside."
Three scorched bodies were pulled from the burning car. Two of the dead were identified as Abu Shanab's bodyguards. The third victim was decapitated, making identification more difficult.
Hanieh identified Abu Shanab at a morgue in a Gaza City hospital.
Dozens of Hamas supporters at the scene dunked their fists in blood and soot, raised them in the air and threatened revenge, chanting "God is great."
In June, Israel fired missiles at the car of another Hamas leader, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who escaped with minor injuries.
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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