The Gaza-region head of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, Makled Hamid, was killed Thursday evening in a missile strike in Gaza City. Hamid was riding in a Subaru with four others, according to Israel Radio, when IDF helicopters fired two missiles at the car as it drove through Gaza's Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, a frequent source of terrorism.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said that Hamid was planning a large-scale terrorist attack. "This evening, the IDF has prevented what I would call a mega-terror attack," he said. Mofaz did not elaborate further.
It was the first targeted counter-terror strike of its kind in more than two months. IDF spokesman Captain Jacob Dallal described Hamid as a "ticking bomb," and said Hamid "was behind a long, long list of terror attacks, and he was in the midst of planning a major attack."
Among other attacks, Hamid was behind a terror attack that killed three IDF soldiers three weeks ago, as well as the attack on the Kissufin checkpoint this past Tuesday.
In other counterterrorism actions, IDF troops during the night arrested three PA residents suspected of terrorist activities. A Hamas and Fatah terrorist were taken into custody in the Ramallah district and a third person was apprehended south of Shechem.
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz said that Hamid was planning a large-scale terrorist attack. "This evening, the IDF has prevented what I would call a mega-terror attack," he said. Mofaz did not elaborate further.
It was the first targeted counter-terror strike of its kind in more than two months. IDF spokesman Captain Jacob Dallal described Hamid as a "ticking bomb," and said Hamid "was behind a long, long list of terror attacks, and he was in the midst of planning a major attack."
Among other attacks, Hamid was behind a terror attack that killed three IDF soldiers three weeks ago, as well as the attack on the Kissufin checkpoint this past Tuesday.
In other counterterrorism actions, IDF troops during the night arrested three PA residents suspected of terrorist activities. A Hamas and Fatah terrorist were taken into custody in the Ramallah district and a third person was apprehended south of Shechem.