The Hindu : Hamas spiritual leader killed in Israeli missile attack

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 23, 2004

International

International

Hamas spiritual leader killed in Israeli missile attack

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, MARCH 22. In an early morning strike in Gaza city, Israel assassinated Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the top spiritual leader of Hamas, bringing tens of thousands of grieving and angry Palestinians into the streets and sending shockwaves throughout West Asia.

Israeli helicopter gunships fired three missiles, one of which directly hit Sheikh Yassin, who was leaving a Gaza city mosque in his wheelchair after the dawn prayers. Seven bodyguards, including Sheikh Yassin's son, were killed and at least 15 persons were wounded.

As news of the assassination of the leader of the Islamic Resistance Movement, known by its Arabic acronym, Hamas, spread, thousands of Palestinians took to the streets in Gaza, heading for his home. Protests broke out in other Palestinian areas too, resulting in clashes with Israeli soldiers. Palestinian sources said troops killed a journalist who was covering a protest in the West Bank town of Nablus. In the afternoon, tens of thousands joined a funeral procession through the streets of Gaza, jostling to touch Sheikh Yassin's coffin, which was draped in a green Hamas flag.

Senior Hamas leaders have responded with fury to the killing. "War is henceforth open with these murderers, these criminals and these terrorists," Hamas leader, Abdal-Aziz al-Rantissi said. Mr. Rantissi condemned what he called a "war against Islam" in Palestine and Iraq and urged Muslims "to wake from their sleep, to return to reason and make the earth tremble under the feet of the Zionists (Israelis)."

The military wing of Hamas, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, vowed to avenge the killing by taking action that would be "like an earthquake." A Hamas statement said " [the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel] Sharon has opened the gates of hell."

The Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Ahmed Qureia, described Sheikh Yassin's assassination as a "cowardly act." "This is a crazy and very dangerous act. It opens the door wide to chaos. Yassin is known for his moderation and he was controlling Hamas and therefore this is a dangerous, cowardly act," he said.

Mr. Sharon justified Sheikh Yassin's assassination saying Israel had a "natural right" to pursue those who would destroy it. Mr. Sharon said Sheikh Yassin was committed to the "destruction of Israel."

Reuters, AP, PTI report:

The United States strongly denied any involvement in the assassination and appealed for calm in the region. The White House National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, said in a round of television interviews that the U.S. did not have advance warning. "It is very important that everyone step back now and try now to be calm in the region. There is always a possibility of a better day in West Asia and some of the things being talked about by the Israelis ... might provide new opportunities," Ms. Rice said. "I would hope that nothing will be done to preclude those new opportunities from emerging," she added.

Hamas said it believed Washington had given the green light for Sheikh Yassin's assassination but Ms. Rice disagreed. She added: "Let's remember that Hamas is a terrorist organisation and that Sheikh Yassin himself has been heavily involved in terrorism." The U.S. classifies Hamas as a ``terrorist'' group.

Israel's opposition leader, Shimon Peres, said in Parliament that the assassination was a mistake.

A setback: Blair

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said the killing was a ``setback'' for West Asia. "We recognise Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism, but equally any steps should be within international law and should be neither disproportionate nor excessive," he said.

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