Israel Kills Local Hamas Leader

BBC ^ | 8/14/02

[marshmallow]

Israeli forces have killed a leading Hamas militant in the West Bank village of Tubas. Nasser Jarrar, 44, died when Israeli tanks bombarded the house where he was hiding after troops ordered an evacuation of the residents.

The Israeli army said that he had been planning a "mega attack" on a high-rise building in Israel when he was killed on Wednesday.

Military sources who spoke to The Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity said that militants inside the house had opened fire from within after troops surrounded it.

The army responded with tank fire, the sources said.

Palestinian eyewitnesses said the house was flattened by Israeli army bulldozers after the tank attack.

Hospital sources in Tubas said Mr Jarrar's severed head was found amidst the rubble, the French news agency AFP reported.

Revenge pledge

A senior Hamas leader in Gaza, Abdel-Aziz Rantissi, warned that there would be reprisals for Jarrar's death.

"The Zionist enemy will pay a heavy price for this crime which they committed against a crippled person," he told Reuters news agency.

Israel has pursued a controversial policy of pre-emptive strikes on suspected Palestinian militants it accuses of planning attacks against Israelis.

Last month the Israeli army killed Sheikh Salah Shahada, founder of Hamas's military wing, along with 14 others including nine children in a missile strike on a residential building.

Anti-militant drive

That attack brought widespread condemnation from the international community and vows of violent reprisals from Hamas.

An attack on the Hebrew University in Jerusalem earlier this month, which killed seven people, was claimed by Hamas to be in revenge for Shahada's killing.

Israel has also been criticised for flattening the homes of families of suspected Palestinian militants and moving to expel relatives of suspected bombers.

Israel says that such policies are to deter would-be attackers from carrying out attacks on Israelis.

[SunStar]

Bravo!

[goldstategop]

Hamas is being pressed hard. Israel needs to eliminate the leadership.

[Dallas]

Israel has pursued a controversial policy of pre-emptive strikes on suspected Palestinian militants it accuses of planning attacks against Israelis

Controversial to whom ?

[Shryke]

Controversial to the maggot-eating, Arab Terrorist loving, British/Euro "press".

[MarineDad]

Hospital sources in Tubas said Mr Jarrar's severed head was found amidst the rubble, the French news agency AFP reported.

D@mned fine shootin' boys! Keep up the good work!

[TJFLSTRAT]

Wow , I wonder if the local "Arab community", here in Tampa will have another march protesting this act, just as they did a day after Hamas murdered Americans at the Univ in Jeruselem. Oh did I mention the march was in support of Hamas?

[KeepUSfree]

"Military sources who spoke to The Associated Press news agency on condition of anonymity said that militants inside the house had opened fire from within after troops surrounded it. The army responded with tank fire, the sources said. "

Looks like that classic mistake of bringing guns to a tank battle!

[sinclair]

"...flattening the homes of families of suspected Palestinian militants and moving to expel relatives of suspected bombers.

A lot more flattening and expelling would go a long way towards ending Israel's homicide-bomber problem. A lot more. A whole lot more. They should start with the billionaire terrorist Arafat even if he is irrelevant at this point. Symbolistic irony is the best kind.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

"The Zionist enemy will pay a heavy price for this crime which they committed against a crippled person," he told Reuters news agency.

How was he crippled? One of the bombs he intended to cripple innocent Israeli's go off prematurely?

[colorado tanker]

"The Zionist enemy will pay a heavy price for this crime which they committed against a crippled person" Crippled? Just because his "head was severed from his body"? "Tis but a scratch"!

[Joe Boucher]

I haven't heard of anyone hereabouts saying that Israel is doing the wrong thing. I personally support the Israelis killing off any scum of the earth planning mass murder. I am just suprised they don't shoot the families of the bombers.

[jae471]

AFP article referenced:

JENIN (West Bank) August 14 -- The Israeli army stated Wednesday that it had killed a chief of the armed branch of the radical Hamas, who's body was recovered from the debris of a destroyed house in Toubas in the West Bank.

Nasser Jarrar, 44, chief of al Qassam Martyrs' Brigades in Jenin was found in the debris of a house of Hamas militant Mohammed Abou Mohsen, in Toubas, near Jenin, Hamas sources said. The dwelling was demolished by Israeli shellings and army bulldozers.

According to medical sources, the head was seperated from the body and was not readily identifiable.

In an offical statement, the IDF said "Nasser Jarrar was killed at the time of operation in Toubas."

"Jarrar recently planned large suicide attacks in Israel. In May, 2001, during a planned bombing, the explosives accidently detonated and he lost both legs and an arm, but he recently restarted terrorist activities, the official statement said.

This death brings the death toll to 2,441, including 1,797 palestinians and 601 Israelis, since the Intifada started in September of 2000.

[zx2dragon]

I ordered one last week, hope to get it soon. Figure that I'll wear it to annoy some of the Arab clerks that spout off too much behind the counter.

[Paleo Conservative]

Hamas is being pressed hard. Israel needs to eliminate the leadership.

I wouldn't just stop with the leadership.

[swlabr]

where can i get one of these????