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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Hamas leader killed in air strike | Hamas leader killed in air strike |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A senior Hamas leader has been killed by an Israeli air strike on his home in the Gaza Strip, Hamas officials say. | A senior Hamas leader has been killed by an Israeli air strike on his home in the Gaza Strip, Hamas officials say. |
| Nizar Rayyan, the most senior Hamas figure to be killed since 2004, had urged suicide attacks against Israel. | |
| News of the strike came on the sixth day of Israeli strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. | News of the strike came on the sixth day of Israeli strikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. |
| Palestinian medical sources say 391 people have been killed. Israel says it is trying to prevent militants from firing rockets into southern Israel. | Palestinian medical sources say 391 people have been killed. Israel says it is trying to prevent militants from firing rockets into southern Israel. |
| Mr Rayyan is the most senior Hamas leader to be killed since the death of Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi in April 2004. | Mr Rayyan is the most senior Hamas leader to be killed since the death of Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi in April 2004. |
| Long reach of Israel | |
| Since its bombing campaign began last Saturday, Israel has attacked Hamas fighters and commanders. | |
| But until now, political leaders have not been killed. | |
| The BBC's Mike Sergeant, in Jerusalem, says this may further strengthen the determination of Hamas to resist the Israeli air assault. | |
| But it will also be seen as an indication that the Israeli military can target key members of the Hamas leadership - the people Israel says are responsible for the rockets being fired towards Israeli towns, our correspondent adds. | |
| Humanitarian warning | |
| On Wednesday, Mr Rayyan had promised that Hamas would hit Israel "even deeper" than it has so far. | |
| On the Hamas-run al-Aqsa television channel, he said Hamas militants were preparing for any Israeli ground incursion, saying "we will kill the enemy and take hostages". | |
| At least four other people, some said to be family members, were also killed in the air raid on Mr Rayyan's home in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the north of the Gaza Strip. | |
| The deaths come as the main UN agency operating in Gaza, Unwra, has resumed food deliveries, but warns of a dire humanitarian situation in the territory. | |
| Israel is refusing entry to Gaza for international journalists. |