The Israeli government has approved the elimination of the entire leadership of Hamas and other militant groups following the assassination of the Islamic resistance movement's founder and spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Among the targets is the uncompromising new Hamas leader named by the organisation yesterday, Abdel Aziz al Rantissi, who has opposed tentative political concessions and a ceasefire by the group.
Israel's internal security minister, Tsahi Hanegbi, said the government had given a green light to the army to kill "the worst terrorists".
"Anyone who is involved in the Gaza Strip or the West Bank or anywhere else in leading a terror group knows from yesterday there is no immunity. Everyone is in our sights," he said.
Israeli security sources say that defence chiefs have decided to kill all Hamas leaders without waiting for the organisation to carry out its threats of bloody retaliation for Sheikh Yassin's death. The defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, said the strategy would ultimately curb suicide bombings and other attacks on Israelis. "If we will continue, in a determined way, with our strikes against Hamas and other terror groups ... including action against those leaders, we will bring more security to Israeli citizens," he said.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1176587,00.html