KEY POINTS:
GAZA - Israel has killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander, a top bombmaker and at least four other militants in the Gaza Strip, prompting the group to threaten suicide bombings within the Jewish state.
An Israeli air strike destroyed a car in Gaza City, killing commander Majed al-Harazeen and two other militants, the Islamic Jihad said.
The group's armed wing said: "The assassination of the general commander will open the door wide to a wave of martyrdom operations."
Hundreds of Islamic Jihad gunmen gathered in the streets and fired into the air after the attack.
A second Israeli attack killed three other Islamic Jihad militants, including the bombmaker, on the streets of Gaza City, the militant group said. An Army spokeswoman said the attack was on militants preparing to fire rockets at Israel, but declined to give further details.
Initial reports said Harazeen survived the air strike, but the group later said he had died of his wounds. Medical workers said the attack also wounded two bystanders.
- Reuters
