Top Hamas leader gunned down in Gaza
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Thousands of Hamas supporters waving the movement’s green flag marched Saturday through the streets of Gaza for the funeral of a militant leader and high-profile former prisoner who was slain, as the group’s leaders pledged retribution.
Senior Hamas member Mazen Faqha was found shot dead late Friday at the entrance of his house in Gaza City. Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, said Faqha was shot four times in the head with a silenced gun and blamed Israel for “assassinating” him, but provided no proof to support the accusation. The Israeli military had no comment. Faqha was sentenced to nine terms of life imprisonment for directing suicide bombing attacks against Israelis. He was freed along with more than 1,000 other prisoners as part of an exchange in 2011 that released captive Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit. Faqha was among dozens of West Bank residents Israel deported to Gaza or elsewhere because of the severity of their crimes.
The funeral included many Hamas militants and leaders who vowed revenge for the killing.