JERUSALEM, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- The top commander of the Palestinian Hamas militia was killed by an Israeli airstrike Wednesday in Gaza, military officials said.
Defense officials said Yehiye Habib was confirmed dead and three of his aides were injured in the targeted strike as the men were approaching the Gaza perimeter fence, IsraelNN.com reported.
Tuesday, an Israeli airstrike killed three suspected militants along with two children at a rocket launching site, the report said. Israeli military officials claimed militants are increasingly using children to retrieve rocket launchers after they've been fired.
Elsewhere, Israel Radio quoted a statement by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as saying Israel's recent intensified operations in the Gaza Strip cast doubt on the country's desire to make peace, the Jerusalem Post reported.
In Ramallah, Fatah's armed wing, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, distributed leaflets saying Israel's latest attacks had nullified a truce, the Post said.
"We call on all our members who handed over their weapons to the Palestinian security forces to report to their commanders so that they can be issued new weapons," the leaflet said.
