Ham Murabi
Plumbing the Depths
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2002
- Posts
- 23,159
Israel dropped a one-ton bomb on the home of a Hamas strongman Thursday, killing him along with two wives and four children in the first attack on the top leadership of Gaza's rulers. As the aerial bombardment escalated, the army said it was also poised to launch a ground invasion. Israel also appeared to be sounding out a possible diplomatic exit from the 6-day-old military offensive against Hamas by demanding international monitors as a key term of any future truce.
The bombing targeted 49-year-old Nizar Rayan, ranked among Hamas' top five decision-makers in Gaza. His four-story apartment building crashed to the ground, sending a thick plume of smoke into the air and heavily damaging neighboring buildings. It killed Rayan and 11 others, including two of his four wives and four of his 12 children, Palestinian health officials said. The Muslim faith allows men to have up to four wives.
Israel has made clear that no one in Hamas is immune in this offensive, and the strike that flattened Rayan's apartment building in the northern town of Jebaliya drove that message home.
Click here for photos. (Warning: Graphic Content)
"We are trying to hit everybody who is a leader of the organization, and today we hit one of their leaders," Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon said in a television interview.
Hamas leaders went into hiding before Israel launched the offensive on Saturday, but Rayan was known for openly defying Israel, and the military said he had an tunnel under his house that could serve as an escape route for Hamas terrorists.
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Rice Presses Mideast Leaders for 'Durable' Solution in Gaza Israeli military officials reportedly warned members of Rayan's family not to stay in the home Thursday but they refused, saying they were human shields.
A professor of Islamic law, Rayan was closely tied to Hamas' military wing and was respected in Gaza for donning combat fatigues and personally participating in clashes against Israeli forces. He sent one of his sons on an October 2001 suicide mission that killed two Israeli settlers in Gaza.
The bombing targeted 49-year-old Nizar Rayan, ranked among Hamas' top five decision-makers in Gaza. His four-story apartment building crashed to the ground, sending a thick plume of smoke into the air and heavily damaging neighboring buildings. It killed Rayan and 11 others, including two of his four wives and four of his 12 children, Palestinian health officials said. The Muslim faith allows men to have up to four wives.
Israel has made clear that no one in Hamas is immune in this offensive, and the strike that flattened Rayan's apartment building in the northern town of Jebaliya drove that message home.
Click here for photos. (Warning: Graphic Content)
"We are trying to hit everybody who is a leader of the organization, and today we hit one of their leaders," Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon said in a television interview.
Hamas leaders went into hiding before Israel launched the offensive on Saturday, but Rayan was known for openly defying Israel, and the military said he had an tunnel under his house that could serve as an escape route for Hamas terrorists.
RelatedStories
Hamas Adopting Rocket Tactics Used by Hezbollah Israel Considers Offering Hamas a Cease-Fire Israelis Face Satisfaction, Fear Over Gaza Attacks EU Leaders Push for Gaza Cease-Fire Red Cross Sending Tons of Medical Aid to Gaza Israel At 'War to the Bitter End,' Strikes Key Hamas Sites U.N. Demands Immediate Gaza Cease-Fire Israel Vows to Expand Gaza Airstrikes as Death Toll Passes 200 Palestinian President Sends Forces to Disperse Protesters U.S. Condemns Hamas in Midst of Israeli Strikes Arab Nations Protest Israeli Air Strike in Gaza Palestinian Rockets Kill 2 Schoolgirls in Gaza Olmert Delivers 'Last Minute' Warning to Gaza 3 Killed in Deadliest Clash Between Israel, Hamas Since Truce Israel Releases 224 Palestinian Prisoners Negotiator: Israel Asks to Annex 6.8 Percent of West Bank for Peace Deal Israeli Forces on Alert for Extremist Settler Violence After West Bank Evictions Israeli Forces Clash With Jewish Settlers Over Disputed West Bank House Video
Cease Fire Rejected Photo Essays
Israeli Strikes Hit Gaza Palestinian Rocket Attack Rockets Rip Through Ceasefire Middle East Violence Links
Rice Presses Mideast Leaders for 'Durable' Solution in Gaza Israeli military officials reportedly warned members of Rayan's family not to stay in the home Thursday but they refused, saying they were human shields.
A professor of Islamic law, Rayan was closely tied to Hamas' military wing and was respected in Gaza for donning combat fatigues and personally participating in clashes against Israeli forces. He sent one of his sons on an October 2001 suicide mission that killed two Israeli settlers in Gaza.