One terrorist was killed on Wednesday night when a car exploded in central Gaza City. The IDF later confirmed that its troops were responsible for the targeted killing.
Four people were wounded in the explosion. One was said to be in critical condition.
Gaza Arabs identified the deceased terrorist as Islam Yassin. The critically wounded man was said to be Yassin's brother.
Yassin was a member of the Army of Islam, one of the Salafi groups that has been increasingly gaining power in Gaza. Members of the Army of Islam have previously clashed with the ruling Hamas terrorist group.
The Army of Islam supports the creation of a worldwide Islamic caliphate, and has criticized Hamas as overly liberal because it has not fully instituted Islamic law (Sharia) in Gaza.
Two weeks ago the IDF assassinated Army of Islam terrorist Mohammed Jamal a-Nahmnam. He was killed by a car bomb near the Hamas police station in Gaza City. After the assassination IDF officials explained that A-Nahmnam had been plotting attacks against Israelis and Americans in Sinai.
IDF spokespeople said Wednesday that Yassin was A-Nahmnam's right-hand man, and was involved in a plot to kidnap Israelis.
Retired IDF Brigadier-General Yechiam Sasson, the former head of the IDF's counter-terrorism division, praised the decision to resume assassinations.