Israel ‘aims to kill entire Hamas leadership’
Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz met for five hours with heads of the various security branches to discuss the fallout from the assassination of Sheik Ahmed Yassin.
The security sources said it was decided to go after the entire Hamas leadership, without waiting for another attack by the militant group.
A decision in principle on targeting top Hamas officials was first made last week by Israel’s Cabinet, in response to a double suicide bombing on an Israeli seaport.
The security chiefs reaffirmed the Cabinet decision and agreed to strike whenever an opportunity presents itself, the sources said.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Yassin the “mastermind of Palestinian terror” and a “mass murderer who is among Israel’s greatest enemies”.
“The war against terror has not ended and will continue day after day, everywhere,” he said.
Israel’s army chief suggested yesterday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah would eventually be assassinated by Israel.
Lieutenant General Moshe Yaalon was asked whether Mr Arafat and Mr Nasrallah would be next on the list.
“I think that their responses yesterday show that they understand that it is nearing them,” Lt Gen Yaalon said.
“In the long term, I hope that this will be a sign to all those who choose to hurt us that this will be their end,” he added.
In Gaza City, thousands of mourners gathered in a reception area set up in a large soccer stadium adorned with green Hamas flags and posters of Yassin. Loudspeakers broadcast calls for jihad, or holy war.
Yassin’s wife, Halima, greeted mourners at their modest Gaza City home.
“We’re counting on God and God will give us our revenge,” she said. The couple had 11 children.
The Palestinian Authority declared three days of mourning and stores throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip were closed.
Hamas is the biggest rival to the authority, but Palestinian leaders treat the movement with care because of its popularity.
Ismail Hanieh, a top Yassin aide, said Hamas took a blow to morale, but would continue carrying out attacks on Israel.
“Sheik Yassin’s death is not going to harm or affect the movement. It’s going to give us encouragement to go ahead with our programme to achieve our goal,” he said.
In the meantime, Israel has increased security both at home and abroad. Jerusalem’s usually lively streets were mostly empty Monday night, due to fears of a Hamas attack. Buses remained empty yesterday.
Checkpoints were set up around major cities, and police were visible on city streets yesterday.
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