Israeli airstrike kills 3 senior Hamas leaders

[Bosonic]

Last edited Thu Aug 21, 2014, 06:32 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: AP

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed three senior commanders of the Hamas military wing Thursday, delivering a likely blow to the organization's morale and highlighting the long reach of Israel's intelligence services.

The pre-dawn strike leveled a four-story house in a densely populated neighborhood of the southern town of Rafah, killing six people, including the three senior Hamas commanders.

The trio had played a key role in expanding Hamas' military capabilities in recent years, including digging attack tunnels leading to Israel, training of fighters and smuggling of weapons to Gaza, Israel said.

It was not immediately clear if their assassination would prompt a change in Hamas strategy in the current round of fighting with Israel or diminish the group's ability to fire rockets at Israel. The military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, is a secretive organization.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/hamas-says-3-senior-leaders-killed-gaza-strike

[kelliekat44]

1. A four story building? "Played a key role in expanding Hamas' military capabilities in recent years

We are supposed to take Israel's word that senior Hamas commanders were killed and they weren't targeting everyone in the building. Hamas is not allowed to have a political or military wing? This crap is insane, inhumane and just out and out war crimes.

[santroy79]

3. war crimes?

digging tunnels to shoot rockets into another country? Thats not having a political or military wing its terrorism

[7962]

5. Hilarious. Military leaders are valid targets. Yeah, its "insane" to kill military commanders.

Maybe the rest of the "commanders" will decide to stop firing rockets into Israel. Then possibly stop calling for the total destruction of Israel. Then Israel will stop trying to get rid of them!

[hack89]

10. Hamas has announced their deaths.

I know you believe everything they say so you can erase any doubt from your mind.

[santroy79]

2. some good news for a change

[4dsc]

4. More war crimes

eom.

[oberliner]

8. Are all military strikes war crimes?

Is there any target Israel can hit without it being a crime?

[cpwm17]

12. Murdering members of a captive population

sounds like a war crime to me.

[oberliner]

13. So there is no such target?

Anything would be a war crime?

[backwoodsbob]

9. targeting military leaders in an armed conflict

is now a war crime?
That's news to the rest of the world

[leftynyc]

6. Good (n/t)

[Gary 50]

7. Another

great victory for Hamas.

[hack89]

11. It some good intelligence to pull this off

I suspect Hamas is looking very closely at each other wondering who is the spy.

[Rhinodawg]

14. From the article.

"We will continue to pursue and strike the heads of Hamas at any time and any place they may be. Whoever tries to harm Israel's citizens — they are marked for death," Yaalon said.

Israel's military and the Shin Bet emphasized the importance of the three Hamas commanders.

Abu Shamaleh, 41, had been the top Hamas commander in southern Gaza, while Attar, 40, was in charge of weapons smuggling and the construction of attack tunnels, and had played a role in the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit in 2006. Barhoum, 45, was a senior Hamas operative in Rafah, a joint statement said.

Good riddance.

[Iamthetruth]

15. Good news

Every hamas leader killed is one step closer to the Palestinians getting their freedom.

[Archae]

16. After seeing the Hamas press conference today...

Three Hamas military people with their heads and faces covered, (gee, how brave... ) bragging about how they grabbed three UNARMED BOYS and murdered them, and people wonder why I have zero sympathy for Hamas and their supporters?

[Rhinodawg]

17. It's plausible that ....

the Palestinian people have had enough of Hamas and wanted to get rid of them.