Israeli soldiers crossed into the Gaza Strip early Thursday in a raid that captured a local Hamas leader and left his brother dead near the southern Gaza border town of Abasan, sources reported. According to the report, soldiers captured Abu Daka, a local Hamas leader, in village of Abasan near the town of Khan Younis Younis. An Witnesses said that an Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at his family's home, killing his brother, Yousef.
According to Israel Radio, the Israeli army confirmed that a "senior" Hamas operative was arrested, and at least one other was killed.
Palestinian officials said the soldiers moved into the area in the southern Gaza Strip, backed by tanks and helicopter gunships, sparking gunbattles that wounded two Palestinians.
Earlier, a top Palestinian field leader in the West Bank was shot in the head and critically wounded, hospital officials said. they said late Wednesday that Hosam Jaradat, the West Bank leader of Islamic Jihad's armed wing, was shot by undercover Israeli soldiers in the Jenin refugee camp.
Islamic Jihad, however, said they were not sure Israel was behind the shooting.
Palestinian medics said Jaradat was taken to hospital and was in critical condition with a head wound.
Israel claims Jaradat is responsible for multiple suicide attacks inside Israel. In October 2003, he dispatched his relative Hanadi Jaradat to carry out a suicide attack in Haifa. Hanadi Jaradat killed 21 people in a local restaurant in Haifa.
