Posted on 06/10/2003 5:08:49 AM PDT by Israel Insider
Senior Hamas leader Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi was apparently lightly injured when an IDF Apache helicopter fired at least four rockets at a jeep traveling in central Gaza City this morning, Israel Radio reported.
According to Palestinian sources, three people - one of Rantisi's bodyguards, a woman bystander and her baby - were killed. The Associated Press reported that Rantisi was among the 25 people wounded in the strike.
Israel Radio reported that Rantisi and his bodyguards noticed Israeli helicopters hovering overhead and escaped from their vehicle. The jeep burst into flames after a rocket struck it.
Palestinian doctors said Rantisi was injured in the leg, and was undergoing an operation at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital, the Associated Press reported. His son was reportedly seriously injured in the strike.
Rantisi, 52, a leading Hamas spokesman, was one of the terrorist organization's leading hardliners who has called for continued "resistance" efforts against Israel and who broke off efforts to achieve a Palestinian cease-fire. Rantisi is closely connected to Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and is also reportedly closely associated with Hamas's military wing.
Speaking to al-Jazeera television after the assassination attempt, Rantisi said God had prevented him from becoming a shahid (martyr) this time. "I tell the murderer Sharon and all the murderous Zionists that they will not have security except for outside Palestine. We will not leave a single Zionist on our land."
On Sunday, after his organization broke off talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen aimed at achieving a Palestinian cease-fire, Rantisi vowed that terror attacks against Israeli targets would continue. "We are all saying that resistance will continue, despite the summit of Akaba, Sharm el-Sheikh, saying that we are all against what the summit said to Palestinians -- so it means that resistance will continue."
Click here for the full article
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.