Hamas Leader Said Killed in Israeli Missile Strike

[drdon326]

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/21/international/middleeast/21CND-Gaza.html?hp
An Israeli helicopter fired five missiles at the car of a senior Hamas official Thursday, killing him and two bodyguards, the Islamic militant group said.

Hamas said it no longer felt bound by a three-month unilateral cease-fire it declared June 29 and threatened retaliation. Two days earlier, Hamas had carried out a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, killing 20 people, but insisted at the time it was still observing the truce.

"We consider ourselves free from this cease-fire," said a Hamas official, Ibrahim Hanieh.

The Hamas official killed in the missile strike was identified as Ismail Abu Shanab.
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