Hamas Threatens to Target Israeli Security Officials After Death of Top Militant
A video showing the defense minister and others through a sniper's scope is apparently a response to the killing of Mazen Fuqaha, which Hamas blames on Israel.
Israeli leaders are in Hamas' crosshairs in a video posted online Wednesday by a news site linked to the terrorist group in Gaza.
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- Hamas faces dilemma after accusing Israel of killing top militant in Gaza
The video shows a camouflaged sniper peering through a scope at prominent Israeli officials like Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and Mossad Director Yossi Cohen, followed by the message in Hebrew and Arabic, "We will act in kind."
The blatant threat was apparently in retaliation to the killing of Mazen Fuqaha, a senior official in Hamas' military wing, on Friday. Hamas accused Israel of the assassination, with reports in Gaza claiming that the attackers had infiltrated the coastal enclave by sea, and vowed revenge.
Fuqaha was sentenced to life in prison and an additional 50 years for planning a suicide bombing on a bus in northern Israel in 2002, which killed nine Israelis. But in 2011, Fuqaha was released as part of a prisoner exchange deal to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Fuqaha, originally from the village of Tubas in the northern West Bank, was exiled at Israel’s demand to Gaza. He was considered a senior member of Hamas’ West Bank command, which gave orders and funds to West bank cells.