Israel kills Hamas militants; rockets hit Israelis

By Nidal al-Mughrabi

GAZA (Reuters) – Israeli helicopter air strikes killed two
Palestinian militants from Hamas and wounded a bystander in
Gaza on Sunday after rockets fired by members of the Islamist
group seriously wounded an Israeli civilian.

The Israeli army confirmed the first strike, saying a
helicopter fired a missile shortly after the men launched a
rocket from northern Gaza. Medics confirmed Israel had killed
the first Hamas fighters since November.

A second Israeli helicopter struck close to a car being
driven by Hamas militants, wounding a bystander, witnesses and
medics said. A second Israeli was lightly wounded from shrapnel
in a rocket firing, the army said.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz said while on a visit to the
60-year-old Israeli man seriously wounded by a rocket that
Israel would make “painful” responses unless the rocket fire
stopped.

Peretz told the Israeli cabinet earlier that Israel would
“act against all who are involved in terror, including Hamas
members.”

There has been an escalation in violence in the past three
days, with Hamas threatening a resumption of the type of
attacks it has spearheaded against Israel since an uprising
began in 2000, including suicide blasts and car bombings.

Hamas took over the Palestinian government in March after
winning a January election. It is sworn to Israel’s
destruction.

Palestinian militants frequently fire rockets into Israel
but rarely cause casualties. The last time an Israeli was
killed by a rocket strike was last July.

“BLOOD FOR BLOOD”

The killing of the Hamas militants was the first by Israel
since the ruling Islamist group ended a 16-month truce on
Friday after seven Palestinians, including three children, were
killed on a Gaza beach on a day of Israeli shelling.

Israel has said the killings were a mistake, although it
has not admitted responsibility. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has
expressed his condolences and promised an investigation.

Since ending its truce, Hamas has fired three dozen rockets
into Israel, mostly toward Sderot.

Some Sderot residents launched a hunger strike outside
Peretz’s house in the town on Sunday, pressing for a tougher
response to the rocket strikes. Others said they may leave.

But Peretz overruled generals who urged swift action during
a closed-door session with defense chiefs, Israeli media said.

Israel has responded to the rockets with air strikes on
Gaza, the coastal strip it withdrew from last year after 38
years of occupation.

Hamas politicians vowed to avenge Israel’s actions. “Blood
for blood and resistance for violence,” Hamas lawmaker Mushir
al-Masri said.

Olmert on Sunday flew to Britain and would later head for
France, where he is expected to push for a strong European
stance against Hamas and to discuss Iran’s nuclear program.

The United States and Europe have demanded Hamas recognize
Israel, disarm and abide by existing peace agreements.

The escalation of violence coincides with growing division
within Palestinian politics.

President Mahmoud Abbas met with Palestinian Prime Minister
Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza after nightfall to discuss a dispute
over the July 26 referendum Abbas has called on a statehood
proposal implicitly recognizing Israel, a move rejected by
Hamas.

Hamas plans to challenge the referendum in an emergency
session of parliament on Monday, Hamas lawmakers said.

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Saul and Corinne Heller
in Jerusalem and Mohammed Assadi in Ramallah)