Israeli air strike kills top Hamas commander
Killing of Ahmed Jaabari just the start of an offensive, warns Israeli army commander, as militants say attack has 'opened the gates of hell'
An Israeli air strike killed the commander of the military wing of Gaza's Hamas rulers yesterday, prompting a furious response from militants who said it had opened "the gates of hell". The attack marked the biggest escalation between Israel and Gaza militants since a 2008-2009 conflict.
Israel said the killing of Ahmed Jaabari was the beginning of an operation to target militant groups across the Hamas-controlled territory. The military said it has also hit "a significant number" of Hamas long-range rocket sites in Gaza, and warned its action could stretch into days, including a ground offensive if required.
Hamas said Jaabari, who ran the organisation's armed wing, Izz el-Deen Al-Qassam, died along with an unnamed associate when their car was blown apart by an Israeli missile. Palestinians said nine people were killed, including a seven-year-old girl.
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.
Brigadier-General Yoav Mordechai said Israel was both responding to a surge in Palestinian rocket salvoes earlier this week and trying to prevent Hamas and other Palestinian factions from building up their arsenals further.
