Hamas leader's children die in rocket attack

An Islamic militant leader’s pick-up truck was hit by what appeared to be an Israeli rocket in the West Bank today, killing two of his children and seriously wounding three people.

Hussein Abu Kweik of the Hamas group, was not in his vehicle at the time. The pick-up was driving in a affluent neighbourhood of Ramallah when it was hit, apparently by a rocket that punched a large hole through the roof.

Bloodied body parts lay in a pile on the street, and blood splattered a nearby street. The victims were identified as Abu Kweik’s nine-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, hospital officials said.

Three other people were wounded, including Abu Kweik’s wife and a female relative, the officials said.

There was no immediate comment by the Israeli military.

In the past 17 months of fighting, Israel has killed dozens of suspected Palestinian militants in targeted attacks, including by firing missiles at their vehicles from helicopter gunships. Several bystanders have been killed in such attacks.

Hassan Yousef, a Hamas leader in Ramallah, confirmed that Abu Kweik was active in the group, but belonged to the political wing and was not involved in attacks on Israelis.