IAF assassinates Hamas mortar terrorist in Gaza Strip

Jerusalem Post ^ | Aug. 28, 2003 | MARGOT DUDKEVITCH

[yonif]

The head of a Hamas cell responsible for mortar attacks on Israeli communities in Gush Katif was killed on Sunday night in yet another targeted killing carried out by Israel, after rockets fired from an IAF helicopter slammed into the donkey cart he drove in along a residential street in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

The strike came hours after a Kassam rocket landed in Ashkelon's southern industrial zone, marking the northernmost point a rocket has landed after it was launched from Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.

The target of the IAF helicopter attack was identified as Hamzi Kalah, 23, a member of the Hamas military wing. Palestinians reported three others were wounded in the attack.

The IDF said Kalah was wanted for mortar, rocket and bomb attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians, and that the raid had thwarted an attack on the nearby Gush Katif Jewish settlement bloc.

Witnesses said Israeli jets had been flying over the area for about half an hour before the attack.

A witness, Mamoun Salah, 42, said he had been walking toward his home in Khan Younis when the rocket struck about 100 meters (yards) away.

"A big explosion went off at the side of the street. I saw a man completely burned fall off the donkey cart he was driving," Salah said.

It was the fourth targeted attack on Hamas operatives and senior Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip carried out by Israel in the past week. The incident occurred shortly after IDF forces entered Beit Hanoun to clear the area from where a Hamas cell fired a Kassam rocket at Ashkelon.

In response to the attack Israel declared it would continue to perpetrate pinpoint attacks on terrorist leaders as it had proven to be the most effective measure against the Hamas operating in the Gaza Strip.

On Tuesday evening an elderly man was killed and 26, mostly bystanders wounded when IAF helicopters fired three missiles at a vehicle containing two or three Hamas operatives traveling on the road between Gaza city and the Jaballiya refugee camp.

On Sunday four members of the Hamas military wing were killed when the rockets slammed into the vehicle they were traveling in. The four were identified as Ahmed Ishtiwi, the operations officer for the Hamas in the Gaza Strip who also served as a liaison between cells in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank, his aide Waled Homas, Mohammed Abu Libda and Ahmed Hilal.

Last Thursday, senior Hamas official and co founder Ismail Abu Shanab was killed in a missile attack on his vehicle in the Gaza Strip.

(With The Associated Press)

[yonif]

In response to the attack Israel declared it would continue to perpetrate pinpoint attacks on terrorist leaders as it had proven to be the most effective measure against the Hamas operating in the Gaza Strip.

[TomServo]

Go team!!!

[Bringbackthedraft]

Was that a Hamas mechanized mortar carrier? Great intel. operation by Israel, you really have to give them credit for nailing these guys. Once they're pegged they're done for. Maybe we should hire the Mossad to find Osama and Sadam.

[sheik yerbouty]

Good shooting!

[Light Speed]

No donkey's were hurt in the filming of this movie : )

[Ronin]

These rockets the Pallies are using against Isreal do little damage it seems, but I am still a bit confused at the lack of counter-battery fire from Isreal.

The fence is a good idea, but it seems to me that defense in depth would/should also include radar coverage, computer analysis and a rapid response to any aggressive action.

I know the IDF is not big on tube arty, but still, more could be done. The range of these rockets, as near as I can tell, is similar to that of a tube mortar. That being the case, the IDF should punch out one round for every rocket they receive.

[zarf]

Rot in hell, Hamas bastard. Nice shooting Israel.

[yonif]

PETA must have something to say about this.

[LarryM]

The IDF should respond to every rocket attack with 155mm cannon fire.

[river rat]

".....confused at the lack of counter-battery fire."

Actually, it appears the IDF has chosen their own effective form of "counter-battery fire"..

They are killing the leaders they view as more dangerous than the incoming fire...

I suspect I would do the same.....for a while...

Then I hope they destroy Arafat, as a sign that the serious phase of the war has begun...

Semper Fi

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

That is amazing precision! Nicely done, Israel!

[yonif]

Pictures of the Strike on the Terrorist

Relatives of 23-year-old militant of the Islamic group Hamas Hamdi Kalkha weep over his body at the hospital of the southern Gaza Strip (news - web sites) town of Khan Younis, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2003. Kalha was killed by an Israeli missile strike when his was riding his donkey cart in Khan Younis. Three other people were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Palestinians look at a dead donkey at the site where a Hamas militant who was riding the donkey cart was killed by an Israeli missile in the Khan Younis southern Gaza Strip (news - web sites) town of Khan Younis Thursday Aug. 28, 2003. A Palestinian official identified the Hamas militant as 23-year-old Hamdi Kalkha. Three other people were injured in the attack. (AP Photo/Yakoub Galowa)

[Gringo1]

Only one innocent victim....the donkey.

[Monty22]

poor donkey.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Donkey in the headlights bump. Looks like this particular kiosk is closed.

[McGavin999]

They need to just keep going until every single one of those b#stards are dead.

They were given a chance, they broke their word, there's no excuses now.

[LibKill]

I only have sympathy for the donkey. This harmless beast of burden had no idea that it was pulling a cartload of evil. Too bad the donkey had to die, but that is really the terrorist's fault.

As for the terrorist, it is good that he was burned to a crisp.

Was the missle used one of those "Hellfire"s? :)