Israel Kills Hamas Terror Leader Ahmed Yassin


Ahmed Yassin preached for the total destruction of Israel.
He was directly responsible for expanding and exporting the activities of Jihad (holy war) with the implementation and glorification of terror suicide bombings claiming hundreds of Israeli, American, British, Spanish, Iraqi and Palestinian lives. The "old, crippled man in the wheelchair" was the epidomity of evil.

 

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem----March 22.......The Israel Defense Forces has announced that Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the founder and leader of Hamas, the terror group that has murdered hundreds of Israeli civilians in suicide bombings, was killed early this morning.

Yassin was the most prominent Palestinian terrorist to be killed by Israel, and his assassination was seen as a major escalation in more than three years of fighting.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Yassin had been killed in the IAF strike, saying he was directly responsible for dozens of "terrorist attacks."

"In an operation by Israeli security forces [Monday] morning in the northern Gaza Strip, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, leader of the Hamas terrorist group and personally responsible for dozens of terrorist attacks and the deaths of Israelis, foreigners and security personnel, was killed in an air strike on his car," the army said in a statement.

Statement by the Israel Defense Forces

Yasin was the leader and mentor of Hamas in the territories, and the authorizing and initiating authority for all Hamas terrorist attacks emanating from the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Although he was not a religious authority, many named him "Sheikh Yassin," for his status as leader of Hamas.

The perception that Yassin was the "political" leader and left the management of terrorist activities to others is incorrect. In fact, there is no differentiation between the "political" and "military" wings of Hamas. Yassin, himself, often authorized and encouraged attacks and strongly preached against Israel.

Yassin, was arrested twice by Israel: While under arrest by the ISA in 1984, Yassin stated during interrogation that he founded an organization of religious activists, an organization with the goal of fighting non-religious factions in the territories, and carrying out "Jihad" operations against Israel. This organization used monies from Islamic activists in Jordan in order to acquire large quantities of weapons.

Following this interrogation, Yassin was imprisoned. In May 1985, he was released within the framework of a prisoner release agreement.

In 1989, Yassin ordered Hamas to kidnap Israeli soldiers inside Israel, to murder them and bury their bodies in a manner which would allow Hamas to negotiate the exchange of bodies for Hamas prisoners, who would be released from jails in Israel.

Yassin was arrested after the abduction and murder of IDF soldier Ilan Sa'adon, and the discovery of the body of IDF soldier Avi Sasports, who was also abducted and murdered. Yassin was tried in Israel and received two life sentences for his involvement in these attacks.

In 1989, during an interrogation, by the ISA, Saleh Shade, appointed by Yassin, admitted to the establishment of a terrorist element within Hamas. Yassin was also arrested and confirmed in interrogation, that he himself ordered the establishment of a military element within the organization, and approved the drafting of terrorists as well as the carrying out of terrorist attacks.

After his release from prison in October 1997, Yassin again became involved in Hamas terrorist operations. His involvement included directing terrorist attacks in the field and providing financial assistance to terrorists.

Yassin tried many times to present himself simply as a political leader not involved terrorist activities.

Many of Yassin's interviews in the media serve as evidence that the exact opposite is true, and that he supported and directed terror.

After the suicide bombing on Jan. 14, 2004, at the Erez crossing in which Reem Raiyshi detonated herself, interviews of Yassin were aired on many media, and displayed his satisfaction with the execution of the attack. Yassin especially justified the use of a woman in order to carry out the attack and said, "Hamas views women as the reserve force… when the military wing of the Hamas saw it necessary to use a woman to carry out an attack, it did so."

Yassin was the senior authority in the decision making process for carrying out terrorist attacks, and was the main address in all matters concerning the determining the policy for terrorism and was viewed as a highly admired and charismatic persona serving as a main factor in attacks against Israel.

Hamas officials confirmed that Yassin had been killed by the Israel Defense Forces. Palestinian hospital sources said 9 people in total were killed in the strike.

"The world is now rid of one of the world's most heinous terrorists," Israel Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Sofer said. Reacting to Yasser Arafat's contention that Israel has killed "a moderate", Sofer said calling Yassin a moderate would be like calling Osama Bin Laden "an al-Qaida moderate."

"He was not a spiritual leader. This term does injustice to the term 'spiritual leader' and an insult to real spiritual leaders. Yassin was a terrorist mastermind," Sofer added.

Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said that with the strike, Israel has proven that no terrorists are immune. "Yassin was warned when he was released from Israeli custody, but did not listen. He became a legitimate target," Israel Radio reported.

Tens of thousands of Gaza residents, many of them in tears, poured into the streets after Hamas announced the death of the quadriplegic Yassin over mosque loudspeakers. Masked fighters at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, where Yassin's body was taken, shot into the air in rage. Angry mourners burned tires, sending black smoke over Gaza City.

Hamas, listed as a terrorist group by both the United States and Israel, vowed revenge against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and hinted at targeting the United States for supporting Israel. The Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a terrorist group allied with Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, also promised swift retaliation.

The Palestinian Authority declared three days of mourning and said the Israelis had crossed "all red lines with this cheap and dirty crime."

"Ahmed Yassin was responsible for helping to revive militant global Jihad and enhance it's export with the barbaric concept of glorfying suicide bombings," said Danny Seaman, director of the Israel Government Press Office. "Yassin was responsible for the death of over 2,000 Israelis since the Oslo Peace Accords were signed 11 years ago," said Seaman.

A senior governmental official stated that it is now time to congratulates the brave and intelligent officers and soldiers of the IDF responsible for eliminating Yassin and again offers our condolences to the families - Israeli, American, British, Spanish, Iraqi and Palestinian, who have lost husbands, wives and children due to Yassin's perverted contribution to global terrorism."

The Israeli army imposed a full closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip after Yassin's killing and divided Gaza into three areas, preventing movement between them.

Witnesses said Israeli helicopters fired three missiles at Yassin and two bodyguards as they left the mosque, killing them instantly. He was carried around in a special car that could accommodate his wheelchair.

Four people were killed and 17 were wounded in the attack, hospital officials said.

Yussef Haddad, 35, a taxi driver, said he saw the missiles hit Yassin and the bodyguards. "Their bodies were shattered," he said.

An explosion was heard at the Erez border crossing with Israel several hours after the airstrike killed Yassin. Hamas sources said they fired four homemade rockets at the crossing. A puff of smoke was seen rising from the Palestinian side of the crossing. The Israeli army had no immediate comment.

Two more Palestinian terrorists were killed in Gaza later Monday, one while handling explosives and the second by Israeli army fire, during a protest against the Yassin killing, Palestinian hospital officials said.

Israel said it held Yassin responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, a former army general, was updated throughout the operation, security officials said.

Yassin was by far the most senior Palestinian terrorist killed in more than three years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. Since September 2000, 474 people — the majority of them Israelis — have been killed in 112 Palestinian suicide bombings, most of them carried out by Hamas.

On March 14, a double suicide attack in the Israeli port of Ashdod killed 10 Israelis.

"He was responsible in a direct way for dozens of attacks and the deaths of hundreds of citizens of Israel, foreign citizens and security forces," said IDF spokeswoman Maj. Sharon Feingold.

One Israeli official recently said Yassin was "marked for death." Sharon's government has gone after militant leaders using Israeli helicopter gunships in a controversial policy that has resulted in a number of civilian casualties in addition to the deaths of senior figures in Hamas and other groups.

Sharon's office declined to comment, but Deputy Defense Minister Zeev Boim told Israel Radio, "I said for a long time that Yassin is a target for killing. He was not immune."

More than 150 Palestinian terrorists have been killed in targeted raids, according to Palestinian medical officials, though that total also includes terorists killed resisting arrest.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia accused the Israelis of trying to escalate violence with the Palestinians. PA Chairman Yassar Arafat has refused to implement the Oslo Peace Accords and has refused to confront Palestinian terror organizations.

The U.S. State Department urged calm.

"We're looking into the circumstances and are in touch with Israeli and Palestinian authorities," spokesman Lou Fintor said. "The United States urges all sides to remain calm and exercise restraint."

In August 2003, the Bush administration froze the financial assets of six top officials of Hamas as well as five European charities said to be sending cash to the militants. President Bush took the action after Hamas claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a packed bus in Jerusalem that killed 20 people.

U.S. officials have said their conservative estimate is that Hamas raised several million dollars in the United States during the previous decade.

Yassin was viewed as an inspirational figure by his followers in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. His death could spur violent protests not only in the Palestinian areas but in the wider Arab and Islamic world, where he was well-regarded as a symbol of the Palestinian battle for independence.

In announcing Yassin's death, Hamas said, "(Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon has opened the gates of hell and nothing will stop us from cutting off his head."

In a statement faxed to The Associated Press, Hamas said, "The Zionists didn't carry out their operation without getting the consent of the terrorist American Administration, and it must take responsibility for this crime."

The threat against the United States would represent a change of tactics for the terror group.

Al Aqsa, a secular group responsible for dozens of attacks on Israelis, said in a statement faxed to The Associated Press, "An eye for an eye, and the retaliation will be in the coming hours, God willing."

Outside the morgue at Shifa Hospital, Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh, a close associate of Yassin, said, "This is the moment Sheik Yassin dreamed about. Sheik Yassin lived and died and offered his life to Palestine.

"Sheik Yassin was a hero and a fighter and the leader of a nation, and (he) is in heaven now."

Cars drove through the streets blaring calls for revenge over loudspeakers. Some aired recordings of Yassin, saying, "We chose this road, and will end with martyrdom or victory."

Mosques read passages from the Quran and two Gaza churches rang their church bells.

Yassin, who was paralyzed at age 12 in a sporting accident, founded Hamas at the start of the first Palestinian intefadeh, or uprising, in 1987. It is an offshoot of the Islamic fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, which is based in Egypt.

Yassin was held in Israeli prisons for several years before being released in 1994.

Yassin lived in a modest house in the rundown Sabra neighborhood in Gaza City. Israel, which blamed him for inspiring Hamas bombers and attackers who killed hundreds of Israelis, tried unsuccessfully to kill him in September by dropping a 550-pound bomb on a building where he was meeting with top Hamas leaders.

Yassin suffered a slight wound to his hand and 15 others were wounded.

Past Israeli governments were reluctant to target Yassin, fearing a firestorm of revenge attacks.

Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed in an Israeli missile attack shortly before dawn as he left a Gaza mosque heafter morning prayers.

"His wheelchair was twisted. Two or three people were lying next to him on the ground. One was legless," said taxi driver Yousef Haddad, who had rushed out of a nearby grocery when the missiles shook the Sabra neighborhood.

Two more Palestinians were killed in Gaza later Monday, one while handling explosives and the second by Israeli army fire, during a protest against the Yassin killing, Palestinian hospital officials said.

Shortly after the attack Israel imposed a full closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the latter divided into three parts to prevent passage from one end of the strip to the other.

IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen Moshe Yaalon has convened a special security meeting with top defense officials in anticipation of a Palestinian response, Army Radio reported. The Shin Bet will increase security around Israel's top leaders.

Police and security services have placed the country on high alert following the targeted killing. Prisons authority are readying for prisoner riots and attacks at prisons housing security prisoners. Prison Authority spokesman Ofer Leffler said security has been beefed up in all the country's jails where security prisoners are held. According to Leffler of the 4000 security prisoners incarcerated in Israel, 1000 are affiliated with the Hamas, 800 of who have blood on their hands. In the Shikma Prison in response to Yassin's death, 400 security prisoners refused to accept meals.

According to initial reports 3 of Yassin's bodyguards were killed and 17 wounded in the attack including two of his sons.

Washington has called on all parties to show restraint, Israel Radio reported.

Palestinian terrorists fired on Gilo, a southern Jerusalem suberb and the Gush Katif settlements shortly after the strike, Israel Radio reported.

Hamas spokesman Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantissi warned in response "the ground will shake in Israel."

"Sharon has opened the gates of hell and nothing will stop us from cutting of his head," Hamas leaders threatened. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh declared "words cannot describe the emotion and hate inside our hearts."

Hamas also threatened the United States, saying America's backing of Israel made the assassination possible. "All the Muslims of the world will be honored to join in on the retaliation for this crime," Hamas said in a statement.

In the past, Hamas leaders have insisted their struggle is against Israel and that they would not get involved in causes by militant Muslims in other parts of the world. Monday's statement suggested that Hamas might seek outside help in carrying out revenge attacks, since its capabilities have been limited by Israeli military strikes.

Education Minister Limor Livnat (Likud) said Israel had no choice but to strike at the man who was personally responsible for mass terrorism against Israel.

Shortly after the attack, thousands of Pgathered in the streets. Security officials said the decision to hit Yassin was made by officials following the double suicide bomb attack at Ashdod a week ago where Prime Minister Ariel Sharon gave the defense and military establishment the go ahead to act against the terrorist infrastructure and leaders in the Gaza Strip.

PA Prime Minister Qurei called the air strike a "stupid and dangerous precedent." With the ongoing violence and escalation in terror Israel warned that no terrorist leader would be immune. The PA has declared three days of mourning. Schools will be closed for the period. Flags at Yasser Arafat's headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah were lowered to half-staff, and the Palestinian Cabinet was to hold an emergency session later Monday. Yassin was Arafat's biggest political rival, but Arafat has always been careful not to confront the Hamas leader openly.

Fatah Al-Asa Brigades and Islamic Jihad vowed "to wage war, war, war on the sons of Zion" in response. They said a response would come inthe next 24 hours.

A total of four people were killed and 12 were wounded in the attack, witnesses said.

Yussef Haddad, 35, a taxi driver, said he saw the missiles hit Yassin and the bodyguards. "Their bodies were shattered," he said.

Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner told CNN he was speaking not only in the name of the government, but "also for all the hundreds and hundreds of Sheikh Yassin's victims."

"He was the most dangerous terrorist chief. His elimination will serve peace in the long run. He is personally responsible for all the most dreadful attacks in Israel. He was a dangerous extremist Islamic ideologist. He was danger to the entire region. By eliminating this threat to peace we will improve chances for a better Middle East. We are convinced that in a few days the situation will calm down," Pazner said.

Yassin, a quadriplegic, was by far the most senior Palestinian terrorist killed in more than three years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. Thousands of angry Palestinians gathered minutes after the attack, calling for revenge against Israel. Hamas' goal of establishing an Islamic state in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, puts it not only at odds with Israel but poses a threat to the Palestinian Authority, which takes a secular approach to governing and recognizes Israel.

In response to his unyielding rejectionist attitude and the almost unrelenting Hamas attacks, Israel marked Yassin for death.

In announcing Yassin's death, Hamas said, "(Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon has opened the gates of hell and nothing will stop us from cutting off his head."

Ambulances and fire trucks raced to the scene with sirens wailing, and rescue workers were gathering up the shattered bodies.

Yassin founded Hamas in 1987. He was held in Israeli prisons for several years before being released in 1994. In September 2002, Yassin escaped an Israeli missile strike on a Gaza building with a hand injury.

Gideon Meir, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official, said Israel held Yassin directly responsible for the scores of suicide attacks Hamas unleashed since 2000. "He is the one who is sending children and women to explode themselves," Meir said.

AP contributed to the above

ISRAEL NEWS AGENCY