Hamas vows to avenge terrorist's killing

IDF kills terrorist responsible for deadly attacks; Hamas accuses PA of coordination with Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
IDF Hebron great 248.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
IDF Hebron great 248.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
In response to elite anti-terror police commandos killing Hamas leader Abd el-Majid Dudin on Wednesday, a spokesman for the group blamed the Palestinian Authority for coordinating with Israel. Dudin was a Hamas armed wing leader in the West Bank and was the brains behind a series of deadly terror attacks in Israel. "This crime demands that the PA protect the Palestinian nation and stop pursuing Hamas," Fawzi Barhoum said Thursday afternoon. He added, "The extremist, terrorist Israeli government will pay the price for this crime and all the crimes that it commits against the Palestinian nation and its leaders." Hamas's military wing, Izzadin Kassam also issued a statement on Thursday, saying, "This targeted killing is a new crime against a leader who weakened the Zionist enemy with operations against its troops." The statement vowed revenge, adding, "We are considering our revenge options for this assassination. We will respond in an appropriate manner." Dudin was a fugitive for 14 years. He masterminded, among other attacks, an attack on a public bus in Jerusalem and a similar attack in Ramat Gan. On Wednesday, the police commandos, acting in cooperation with the IDF's Yehuda Brigade, arrived in the village of Dura. When they reached the house where Dudin was hiding, he opened fire at the forces. During the fire exchange Dudin suffered a gunshot wound and was killed. No Israeli troops were hurt in the gun battle. Palestinian sources told the Palestinian Ma'an news agency that during the operation to capture Dudin, at least 16 military vehicles entered the village of Dura. Dudin, 45, had already served some time in a Palestinian Authority prison. His house was demolished once in the past over his involvement in terror activities. Apart from the killing of Dudin, near Mount Hebron, IDF troops arrested 12 Palestinian fugitives in the West Bank and the Jordan Valley.