GAZA, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Israel's declared war on Hamas targeted the head of its military wing in the north of the West Bank.
A statement by Hamas said Amjad Hannawi, 32, was killed by elite Israeli troops in a raid on his house in Nablus, just hours before U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas vowed to deal a "painful blow" to Israel in response, warning the continuation of what it called "Zionist crimes" will lead to the total collapse of an unofficial truce reached last February with Egypt's help.
"The day when you will pay for the crimes you are perpetrating against the Palestinian people has become very close and you will regret the spilling of every drop of Palestinian blood ... the painful response is coming in the near future," the statement threatened.
A spokesman for the Israeli army said an elite force infiltrated Nablus to arrest Hannawi, wanted since 1996 for killing two Israeli officers, but the latter opened fire prompting the troops to return fire and kill him.
The forces then arrested several Hamas activists, the spokesman added.
In a separate incident, Israeli soldiers killed a Palestinian and injured two others in Bureij camp in central Gaza.
Palestinian sources said the victims were obviously trying to cross into Israel to look for a job.
