Defense Minister: Hamas may be behind killing of military leader

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman explains Hamas is “the most radical of organizations,” and could be behind the assassination of one of its own leaders. 

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman suggested the Hamas terrorist organization in control of the Gaza Strip may have been behind the assassination of the former head of the organization’s Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Mazen Fuqaha.

“The organization is known for internal assassinations,” noted Liberman, while on a tour of Sderot, an Israeli city near the Gaza border that has been hit with thousands of rockets over the last fifteen years.

“Hamas is known as the most radical of organizations,” Liberman continued. “I would not buy anything they say.”

The terrorist organization’s execution of its own leaders is not new. The IDF Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) revealed months ago that a bitter power struggle within the Hamas leadership led to the execution of prominent field commander, Mahmoud Ashtiwi.

Ashtiwi was arrested by Sanwar and subsequently imprisoned for almost a year, until he was executed.

While implicitly expressing a desire against escalating tensions, the Defense Minister emphasized Israel is prepared for any eventuality.

“We are not looking for adventures,” added Liberman. “We are acting with confidence, responsibility and determination, and we are doing what we have to do.”

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News

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