Israel is planning to kill Hamas leaders Khaled Mashaal, PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, and former PA Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, according to the Lond-based Al-Hayat newspaper on Sunday, but is waiting until US President George W. Bush leaves the Middle East.

According to the report, Hamas is taking the news of threats seriously, bolstering security around the three Hamas men to unprecedented levels.

On Saturday, Hamas claimed that its security forces prevented an assassination attempt on Haniyeh, arresting a man carrying a 4-kilo explosive device during a rally attended by Haniyeh and other members of Hamas in Gaza City.