Senior Hamas political leader Ismaeel Abu Shanab was among
three Palestinians killed Thursday afternoon by missiles fired by Israeli helicopters in Gaza, a Palestinian source confirmed to Al Bawaba. The attack took place in the Rimal neighborhood.
Paramedics pulled three bodies out of the burning vehicle, those of Abu Shanab and his two bodyguards.
In response to the attack, a Hamas representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, called an end to the Palestinian cease-fire and said Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government would be responsible for the results. Hamas vowed to avenge the killings.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the assassination as "irresponsible." Information Minister Nabil Amr said the attack complicated the current situation and obstructed the PA's steps to take action against armed groups.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said that the assassination of Abu Shanab would undermine Palestinian efforts to crackdown on armed groups.
Speaking to reporters outside his office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, Abbas condemned the killing. "There is no doubt that what the Israeli troops carried out today is an ugly crime," he said. "We condemn such acts. This is against peace and the peace process."
"This for sure will affect the whole (peace) process and the decision taken (last night) by the Palestinian Authority," he said.
Abu Shanab, a 53-year-old engineer, was released by Israel in 1997 after serving an eight-year sentence for his role as an aide to Hamas leader and founder, Ahmed Yassin.
After his release he served as a lecturer in the Islamic University, Faculty of Engineering, Gaza.
Abu Shanab was interviewed by Al Bawaba many times in the past.
In his last interview with Al Bawaba on Wednesday Abu Shanab said “there will be no ‘divorce’ between us and the Palestinian government…those who talk about this issue just want to create a rift among the Palestinian people.”
He added that his movement was preparing for talks with Palestinian PM Abu Mazen following a request from officials in his government. Abu Shanab confirmed that this request did not mention anything about a boycott or a halt to dialogue between them. Moreover, he also asserted that there are no indications of an ‘end to talks’ between the Islamists and the Palestinian government. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
