 [Ma'an] Hamas' armed wing vowed on Wednesday to avange the death of a movement leader it alleges was assassinated by Israel. "The decision has been made. We decided to respond," said Abu Obaida, the spokesman for the Eddedin Al-Qassam Brigades, speaking at a Hamas rally in Sheikh Zayed City in the northern Gaza Strip. He said Hamas would not say when or where this response would take place, but said Israel "must pay for this crime."
He was referring to the murder of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh, the Hamas leader who was found dead in A Dubai hotel room on 20 January. On Monday Dubai police named an 11-member hit team that traveled to the emirate on what were later revealed to be false European passports.
Abu Obaida also warned Israel against waging a new offensive on Gaza, saying any such attack would be "sure to fail."
Israel has neither confirmed nor denied any involvement in Al-Mabmhouh's death. Five of the 11 passports identified by Dubai authorities matched the names of Israelis with dual nationalities. The five claimed to be victims of identity theft. British, French, and Irish authorities stated on Tuesday that the passports allegedly used in the plot were fakes. Late on Wednesday The Guardian newspaper reported that the British government had summoned the Israeli ambassador in London over the passports.
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| ABU OBAIDA | Hamas | |
| MAHMUD AL MABHUH | Hamas | |
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