Hamas: Still hurting, still needing to be destroyed

The IDF got a big fish.

Hamas’ interior minister, Said Siam, considered one of the most senior members of the Palestinian group’s leadership, was killed Thursday afternoon in an Israeli air strike on his brother’s home in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said.

I’d give my kitties tuna for the Tuna for Terrorists program, but they already got some for the Gracie Went to the Vet program.

But wait, that’s not all:

The defense establishment said Siam’s brother Ayad and the head of Hamas’ security organization in Gaza, Salah Abu Sharah, were also killed in the strike. Hamas members confirmed that Siam and his brother were killed, but claimed that the third casualty was Siam’s son.

So who was this guy, and what did he do? A lot.

Siam, 50, is the most senior Hamas figure assassinated in Operation Cast Lead so far, and is the most senior Hamas figure killed by Israel since the assassination of Dr. Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi in April 2004.

Siam was the person who built Hamas’ special executive force, which was the main focus of friction and dispute between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas as the Hamas government took power, and he officially led the organization’s takeover of the Gaza Strip.

Israel should refuse a cease fire until they get the rest of the leadership. Of course, they won’t refuse.

According to diplomatic sources in Egypt, Israel gave the ceasefire offered in Cairo a “green light”, just one day after Hamas approved the plan’s principle points.

Gilad is set to brief Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on his the visit.

Sources in Jerusalem said the briefing may yield a decision on whether to approve the Egyptian initiative and a subsequent withdrawal from Gaza, or to continue the offensive in the Strip. The security cabinet is scheduled to debate the decision Friday morning.

Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid. The IDF has the chance to do some real damage to Hamas, damage that could be permanent. Hamas is still shelling Israeli cities, and they’re still using long-range missiles. They finally got lucky and hurt a woman and child badly. There’s a picture at the link of the car that got hit. This is what a Grad rocket does. Hamas has many more—the IDF hasn’t destroyed Hamas rocket stockpiles yet.

The only good news about all this is that Hamas has managed to refuse to abide by all cease fires to date. Here’s hoping they do the same, and let the IDF go on about its business.

In the wake of a progressively materializing ceasefire, IDF commanders in Gaza told soldiers Thursday to continue to seek out their targets and destroy them with full force.

[…] Despite reports that Israel was leaning towards accepting the Egyptian ceasefire proposal in Gaza, the army appeared to be stepping up its offensive, and an officer and two soldiers were lightly injured in the operations. They were evacuated to Israel for treatment.

Too bad the IDF can’t go into the basement of the Shifa Hospital, where most senior Hamasniks are hiding. Or in tunnels, like rats in sewers. And sometimes, in their own homes. Where the IDF can get them. That was good intel. May the Gazans continue to inform on the leadership that brought this war on them.