Posted on 03/08/2003 5:50:26 AM PST by SJackson
Hamas' military wing, Izzadin al Kassam, has released a statement to the media saying that Israel's assassination of Hamas founder Dr. Ibrahim Makdme "opens all the possibilities for action, and chiefly the targeting the political leaders of the Zionists."
The statement came in response to Israel's assassination of Makdme Saturday morning.
Israeli attack helicopters fired missiles at a car carrying a top Hamas political and military leader, Dr. Ibrahim Makdme, early Saturday morning in Gaza, killing him and three of his bodyguards.
Makdme, 50, is considered second in command in the Hamas leadership, after Sheik Ahmed Yasin, the organization's spiritual leader.
According to Israel Radio, Makdme was the leader of Izzadin al Kassam, military wing of the Hamas. Israeli security sources say that two of Makdme's bodyguards, Khaled Jouma, a top Izzadin al Kassam leader, and Alwa Shukri, an Izzadin terrorist in Gaza, reports Israel Radio.
The fourth person in the car remains as yet unidentified.
Some passers-by were also injured in the missile attack.
Minister Meir Shitreet said in an interview on Israel Radio that Israel had made a mistake by not dealing with the Hamas leadership before, and that "Israel needs to hit anyone who deals in terror".
Makdme was one of the founders of Hamas and was active in its political wing, and recruited leaders for its military wing.
Makdme recruited Salah Shehadeh, one of the leaders of Izzadin al Kassam, who was killed last July in an IAF attack on his home in Gaza. Makdme also recruited Mohammed Deif, on Israel's most wanted terrorist list and responsible for many Israeli deaths.
Palestinian security sources in Gaza claimed that the helicopter fired four missiles at the car in which Makdme was traveling, killing him and three other Hamas terrorists traveling with him. Israeli security sources confirm that Makdme was the target of the helicopter strike. The sources added that Makdme was a close associate of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yasin.
The security sources added that Makdme was at the forefront of those calling for extreme actions against Israel, and was a key recruiter for the organization. Makdme was against the ceasefire talks being held by Palestinian factions in Cairo.
Makdme was constantly calling for harsher attacks against Israelis, reports Army Radio. Makde's assassination marks an escalation in Israel's policy of targeted assassinations against Hamas due to the fact that Makde was a top leader of the organization, and responsible for determining Hamas' policies.
Hamas spokesman, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, said to reporters in Gaza in that Makdme's assassination " would escalate the war against the Jews. All of Israel's leaders are targets of the Hamas now".
The Palestinian Authority condemned Makde's assassination, and said that it would complicate the meeting of the Palestinian Legislative council gathering in Ramallah today to appoint a prime minister.
Reminds me of that old commercial: SVEEEMWAHR!
Every Hamas leader and member should be wiped out now. There is no reason to wait and see if they touch any Israeli leader.
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