Israel Kills 2 Militant Palestinian Leaders

A missile fired from an Israeli aircraft struck a building in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank late Tuesday, killing two local leaders of Palestinian militant groups, witnesses said.

They were identified as Alah Sabbagh of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and Imad Nasrti of the Islamic militant group Hamas. They were in the same room on the first floor of the building when a missile came through the window and exploded, rescue workers said.

Palestinian security sources said both men, Jenin-area commanders for their respective groups, had been wanted by Israeli security forces for months.

Israel claims the right to target and kill Palestinians suspected of planning attacks. Palestinians and human rights groups object to the practice, calling it summary execution with no judicial process.

Earlier, tanks backed by helicopter gunships battled Palestinian gunmen during an Israeli raid in the Gaza Strip, and troops rounded up dozens of Palestinians in the West Bank in a sweep for militants.

In political developments, Palestinian officials acknowledged that it was unlikely that general elections will be held as scheduled on Jan. 20.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said he was “not hopeful” the elections for Palestinian Authority president and parliament would be held as scheduled and blamed Israel, whose troops have been in control of most West Bank cities since June.

“The Israeli government has done nothing but obstruct our efforts,” he said. “We haven’t been able to register voters or train people for this huge process.”