'I think the whole situation is going down the drain,' Erakat said. Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat deplored Yassin's killing as part of a 'vicious cycle.' There were no reports of casualties.Īnd in Tel Aviv, a Palestinian armed with an axe attacked Israelis, authorities reported. Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli troops protecting the Gush Katif settlement in southern Gaza, Israeli officials said.Ī Qassam rocket was fired Monday into the Erez industrial zone at the border crossing between Gaza and Israel, a Hamas spokesman told CNN. The Palestinian militant group Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a nationalist military offshoot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, promised to wage war against Israel and attack Israeli settlements. Following the attack, a complete closure was imposed on the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.' 'The Hamas leadership is also responsible for the cooperation with the other terror organizations. The Hamas leadership, led by Yassin, was directly involved in planning, directing and launching terror attacks carried out by the organization. 'Yassin, responsible for numerous murderous terror attacks, resulting in the deaths of many civilians, both Israeli and foreign, was killed in the attack. It shows that Israel has chosen the path of more violence and further escalation.'Īn Israel Defense Forces spokesman said: 'This morning, in a security forces operation in the Northern Gaza Strip, the IDF targeted a car carrying the head of the Hamas terror organization, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and his aides. 'We condemn the assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin,' the Palestinian Authority said in a statement. Hamas gunmen fired weapons into the air, promising revenge against Israel.

Thousands of Palestinians marched and chanted in the streets of Gaza City soon after the attack.īlack smoke rose over sections of Gaza City as Palestinians burned tires, and explosions could be heard. He was heading to his home, a short distance away. Palestinian security sources told CNN that Yassin's car and vehicles carrying his bodyguards were hit by three rockets as he was leaving a mosque after morning prayers.

Sixteen people were wounded in the attack, including two of Yassin's sons seven of the wounded were in critical condition, hospital spokesmen said. Seven others were killed in the strike, Palestinian officials said. (CNN) - Hamas founder and spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin was killed in an Israeli airstrike Monday morning as he was leaving a Gaza City mosque.

Yassin & tahlil rumi