Gaza Strip attacksIsrael kills Hamas top military leader, destroys Hamas Fajar missiles

Published 14 November 2012

In a precise targeted attack early today (Wednesday), the Israel Defense Force (IDF) killed Ahmad Jabari, the top military leader of Hamas; Jabari ran the organization’s armed wing, called the Izz el-Deen Al-Qassam; in a separate attack, Jabari’s deputy, Raed al-Atar, was also killed; the Israeli early morning strikes also included attacks on about twenty or so targets across the Gaza Strip. these attacks inflicted a heavy blow on Hamas’s military capabilities by destroying most of Hamas’s most threatening weapons – the mid-range Fajar missiles Hamas received from Iran and with which the organization could attack Tel Aviv and other cities in central Israel

In a precise targeted attack early today (Wednesday), the Israel Defense Force (IDF) killed Ahmad Jabari, the top military leader of Hamas. Jabari ran the organization’s armed wing, called the Izz el-Deen Al-Qassam.

In a separate attack, Jabari’s deputy, Raed al-Atar, was also killed.

Half a dozen other top military leaders of Hamas were attacked, but there is no news about their fate.

Jabari was considered the most important strategist of Hamas, and he is credited with innovating the organization’s approach to its war with Israel.

Among other things, Jabari was behind the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was held prisoner for five years before being exchanged earlier this year for  a few hundreds Palestinian terrorists in Israeli jails.

The Israeli early morning strikes also included attacks about twenty or so targets across the Gaza Strip. These attacks inflicted a heavy blow on Hamas’s military capabilities by destroying most of Hamas’s most threatening weapons – the mid-range Fajar missiles Hamas received from Iran and with which the organization could attack Tel Aviv and other cities in central Israel.

The IDF has began to move armored and infantry units closer to the Gaza Strip in preparation of a land invasion. Israeli sources indicated that a land invasion is not imminent —  but will be launched if Hamas retaliated by attacking Israeli civilian targets.

The killing of Jabari should be considered a major intelligence coup. Jabari was famous for his secretive ways, and he led his life, both personal and professional, under a heavy blanket of secrecy and compartmentalization. The attack this morning also killed his son, who was the driver of the car which was attacked by an Israeli missile.

Jabari is the most senior Hamas leader to be killed since the December 2008-January 2009 Operation Cast Lead in Gaza. Jabari has been at the top of Israel’s most-wanted list for the last six or seven years.

Jabari, a relative of one of the founders of Hamas, Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi, who himself was killed by Israel on 17 April 2004.

The Israeli attack comes after two weeks of relentless missile and rocket attacks from Gaza against Israeli cities and villages in south Israel. Hamas took responsibility for these attacks, in which more than 200  missiles and rockets were launched.

The interesting question now is how Egypt would react. Egypt is lead by the Muslim Brotherhood, a movement with which the Hamas is ideologically affiliated.