Israel bombs home of Hamas leader
The strike marked the first time a Hamas leader was attacked in his home, an escalation of Israel’s campaign against the Islamic militant group. Several Hamas leaders went underground, and Hamas threatened to widen its bombing spree by bringing down Israeli high-rises and homes.
The Hamas military wing issued a statement yesterday claiming responsibility for the two suicide bombings on Tuesday, saying they “came as the beginning of our retaliation for the enemy’s crimes against our people.”
The first explosion killed eight soldiers at a crowded bus stop near Tel Aviv, and the second blast, five hours later, killed seven people at a popular Jerusalem coffee house. Dozens of bystanders were maimed and wounded.
The Israeli military said after the bombings that it will press ahead with its “all-out war” on Hamas. In the three weeks leading up to Wednesday’s strike, Israel had killed 12 Hamas members and five bystanders in targeted attacks, and Hamas said the suicide bombings came in retaliation for strikes against its leaders.
In the West Bank village of Rantisi, 20 relatives of the two Hamas members identified as the bombers were arrested by Israeli troops. Villagers said the two, Ramez Abu Isleem, aged 24, and Ihab Abdel Kader Abu Isleem, aged 20, disappeared last week. Despite having the same family name, the two weren’t believed to be close relatives.
Hamas threatened revenge. In another statement, its military wing said there would be more bombings in retaliation for the attack on Zahar. “Targeting homes is violating all red lines,” it said. “From today on, the Zionist enemy shoulders the responsibility for the targeting of houses and Zionist towers everywhere in occupied Palestine (by us).”
Zahar’s bodyguard and a son, 29-year-old Khaled, were killed in the attack. The blast hurled the bodyguard’s body onto the roof of a nearby mosque, witnesses said. Twenty-five people were wounded, including Zahar’s wife and a daughter.
Some 3,000 mourners carried the body of Zahar’s son through the street in a funeral procession, and several Hamas supporters fired their rifles.
The Israeli military said it targeted Zahar as a senior decision-maker in Hamas and one of those who directs suicide attacks. “The leadership (in Gaza) is in close touch with Hamas command posts throughout the world, and especially the Hamas command center in Syria,” the military said.
Israeli troops also arrested Raed Barghouti, a Hamas operative, in the West Bank town of Ramallah. Palestinian security officials said Barghouti apparently had a role in the bombings. Israeli troops also entered the West Bank town of Qalqiliya and imposed a curfew.
