Israel Kills Hamas Commander

The Hamas commander had long topped Israel's most-wanted list



An Israeli airstrike has killed the commander of Hamas’ military wing - which the group said "has opened the gates of hell".

Hamas said Ahmed al Jaabari, who ran the organisation's armed wing, the Izz el-Deen Al-Qassam, died along with a passenger after their car was targeted by an Israeli missile.

Israel's Shin Bet domestic intelligence service confirmed it had carried out the attack, saying it had killed Jaabri because of his "decade-long terrorist activity". He has long topped Israel's most-wanted list.

It marks a dramatic resumption of Israel's policy of assassinating Palestinian militant leaders.

Jaabari becomes the most senior Hamas official to be killed since an Israeli invasion of Gaza four years ago.

Witnesses said Jaabari was travelling in a vehicle in Gaza City when the car exploded.

Crowds of people and security personnel rushed to the scene of the strike, trying to put out the fire that had engulfed the car and left it a charred shell.

Hamas police cordoned off the area around a hospital where at least one body from the strike was taken. It was draped in a white sheet, with a burned leg poking out.

Israeli officials had said in recent days that they were considering assassinating top Hamas officials following a wave of heavy rocket fire from the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, triggering Israeli airstrikes.

Hamas police said three other airstrikes hit other targets in Gaza City, Khan Younis and Rafah.