Skip to main content

Militant commander killed in Gaza

  • Story Highlights
  • Islamic Jihad: Commander of military wing among four members killed
  • Israel Defense Force says it carried out the first strike
  • IDF has no comment on second strike
  • Next Article in World »
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- A pair of Israeli airstrikes on Monday killed four Islamic Jihad members, including the commander of its military wing, and wounded three others, the militant group said.

The Israel Defense Force said it carried out the first strike, targeting military leader Majed El Harazin.

Islamic Jihad confirmed Harazin's death, saying he was killed when Israeli jets targeted a car carrying militants on a mission to fire rockets.

Islamic Jihad said the second strike targeted a spot where rockets are built and killed two members of the group's rocket unit and wounded three others.

The IDF had no comment.

An Islamic Jihad spokesman, Abu Hamza, pledged revenge, according to The Associated Press, saying, "The blood of our comrades will be the fuel for the rockets that will bring death and destruction to the Zionists."

Rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli plans for West Bank settlements were among concerns aired during peace talks in Jerusalem last week. Video Watch as pressure mounts on Israeli leaders to stop rocket attacks from Gaza »

advertisement

The latest Israeli airstrikes also came as a conference to raise funds for the Palestinians exceeded expectations, with $7.4 billion pledged to help build a Palestinian state, according to organizers.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called the pledge a "vote of confidence" in the Palestinians. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

Copyright 2007 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

  • E-mail
  • Save
  • Print