Hamas Militant Is Killed, 2 Hurt in Israeli Raid
Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at a car in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing a Hamas militant and seriously wounding two others, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.
Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas official in Gaza, said the airstrike in the Palestinian-controlled town of Khan Yunis was “a drop in the sea of Israeli crimes,” and he vowed to respond with “painful” retaliation.
Palestinian hospital sources identified the militant as Bakar Hamdan. Israeli security sources said Hamdan was targeted for his involvement in the killings of Israelis.
Witnesses said at least two missiles hit the car Hamdan was riding in. The two people injured were also in the vehicle.
Israel has killed dozens of militants under its internationally condemned policy of tracking and striking at people who it says have been behind attacks on Israelis during a 16-month Palestinian uprising.
Palestinians say the policy is state-sponsored assassination.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
