After assassination of military leaders, Hamas targets spies
Hamas was caught off guard by Israel’s killing of three Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades leaders and has responded by executing people it says assisted Israel in locating targets.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Forty-six days after the July 8 start of the war on Gaza, Israel succeeded in assassinating three leaders of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, prompting Hamas to execute 18 people it accused of spying for Israel. The Aug. 21 attack appears to have caught the organization off guard and has raised speculation of a possible lapse in security precautions that enabled Israel to successfully carry out the attack.
A statement issued by the brigades mourned the three men: Mohammed Abu Shamala, 41, a member of the general military council; Raed al-Attar, 40, commander of the Rafah brigade and a member of the general military council; and Mohammed Barhoum, 45, a top-ranked brigades member.
