Palestinians vow revenge for killing of Hamas leader

Los Angeles Times

NABLUS, West Bank — Tens of thousands of Palestinians marched through the streets of the West Bank and Gaza City on Saturday, vowing to kill Israelis to avenge the death of the military leader of the militant Hamas Islamic movement who died in an Israeli helicopter gunship attack.

Hamas threatened to exact a price from the Jewish state even before angry crowds turned out for the burials of Mahmoud Abu Hanoud and two assistants who died Friday night. The trio were killed by missiles fired at their car as they drove north of Nablus.

After night fell Saturday, an Israeli was killed and two were injured when Palestinians fired mortar shells and rockets at Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. Although Palestinians have fired hundreds of mortar shells at settlements and at communities inside Israel’s pre-1967 borders since fighting began 14 months ago, this was the first time anyone was killed by one.

The bloodshed inflamed passions here on the eve of the arrival of U.S. envoys trying to halt the violence. More than 900 people, most of them Palestinians, have died since fighting erupted in September 2000.

Former Marine Corps Gen. Anthony Zinni and Assistant Secretary of State William Burns will find each side blaming the other for the failure to achieve a cease-fire.

If experience is a guide, retaliation by Hanoud’s Islamic Hamas movement will be harsh and almost certainly will target Israeli civilians.

Each killing of a leader of Hamas or the equally radical Palestinian Islamic Jihad inspires a wave of volunteers eager to fight Israel and to kill Jews. The killings feed Palestinian anger and further radicalize the Palestinian public, which increasingly is convinced that Israel favors military might over negotiation.

Hamas, according to Palestinian sources, has not staged a major attack since Sept. 11, in part due to a political decision to obey Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat’s demands for calm after the terror attacks on the United States, and in part because attacks are getting harder to carry out due to increased security efforts.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens schools bond leading early; Arlington voters reject latest levy attempt

A $314 million bond looks to pass while Arlington’s attempts to build a new Post Middle School again appear to take a step back.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider

The idea for the Lynnwood crisis center began in 2021 after a 47-year-old died by suicide while in custody at Lynnwood Municipal Jail.

Three seriously injured after head-on collision on Highway 522

The crash between Monroe and Maltby happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.