The Israeli government has admitted today's helicopter attack on Hamas leader Mr Abdul Aziz Rantissi in the Gaza Strip was an assassination attempt.
The assassination attempt on Mr al-Rantissi provoked Palestinian outrage and threatens to derail efforts to secure a Middle East peace deal.
The Palestinian Prime Minister, Mr Mahmoud Abbas, called the strike a "criminal and terrorist" attack and said it could "obstruct and sabotage the political process". Prime Minister Ariel Sharon saidIsrael would continue to "act against the enemies of peace."
The US President Mr George W. Bush saidhe was "deeply troubled" by the attacks, and said "responsible leadership" from allparties was needed for Middle East peace.The UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, said the assassination attempt wouldcomplicate efforts to curb violence and end terrorism.
|
The Israeli government admitted itsforces tried to eliminate Mr al-Rantissi. "Abdul Aziz Rantissi is among the most extremist leaders of thecriminal Hamas organization in Gaza. He has preached and directedmurder, sabotage, terror and incitement for many years," said astatement issued by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office.
"The Palestinian Authority has been well aware of Rantisis activities for some time but is taking no action to stop them" the statement said. "Thus, the State of Israel has been compelled to protect its citizens and try to halt this arch-terrorists murderous actions, the danger of which is increasing."
Mr al-Rantissi was injured in the Israeli helicopter attack in Gaza City. He was hit in the left leg and arm and also had a superficial chest wound from the helicopter attack on his car that killed three Palestinians and wounded more than two dozen. A woman, a five-year-old girl and Mr Rantissi's bodyguard were reported to be killed.
Speaking from his hospital bed after surgery for his wounds, he said: "By God we will not leave one Jew in Palestine. We will fight them with all the strength we have. This is our land, not the Jews [sic]".
"You will have no security except outside the homeland [Palestine]," Mr Rantissi said, addressing the Israelis. "We will defend this homeland with all the strength we have. We have God on our side, and we have the sons of the Arab and Islamic nation on our side."
Earlier, a senior Hamas official warned Israel it would face "severe punishment" for the strike. "Israel should expect that this crime . . . will not pass without severe punishment," Mr Mahmoud al-Zahar told Al-Jazeera television.
Three more Palestinians were killed and 17 wounded in a separate attack when two Israeli helicopters fired missiles on a car east of the northern Gaza Strip town of Jabalya, Palestinian security sources said.
The three victims, all members of the same family, were killed when the first missile missed its target and hit a building, the sources said. The second missile destroyed a vehicle, causing only injuries.
A 23-year-old Palestinian man was shot dead this evening by Israeli troops near the southern Gaza Strip town of KhanYunis, medical sources said.
Mr Rantissi has often acted as a spokesman for Hamas in Gaza, a stronghold of the militant group, and had spent time in Israeli jails. Yesterday he spoke out against the call by Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas for Hamas to halt attacks against Israelis.
Mr Abbas demanded immediate action from the United States following the assassination attempt. "The prime minister conveyed an urgent message to the US administration expressing his condemnation of this terrorist attack, and warning of the grave dangers facing the implementation of the 'road map' as a result of this Israeli action," a statement from his office said.
A senior aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat accused Israel of trying to torpedo a "road map" to peace by launching the missile strike. But Israeli Justice Minister Mr Tommy Lapid, quoted by his spokesman, said: "All efforts by Israel to eliminate terrorist leaders are justified".
Agencies