Israeli security officials say that an airstrike in Gaza last week killed Basel Himouni
By Sammy,
Israeli security officials say that an airstrike in Gaza last week killed Basel Himouni, a long-time Hamas operative involved in major attacks against Israel. The strike took place on February 4 during a broader series of attacks on militant targets that followed a gunmen's assault in northern Gaza in which a reservist officer was seriously wounded.
Himouni, originally from Hebron and regarded as a senior Hamas figure, was responsible for sending two suicide bombers to attack buses in Beersheba in 2004. Sixteen civilians were killed in that attack and more than one hundred were injured. He was arrested later that year and later freed in the 2011 prisoner exchange that brought Gilad Shalit home, after which he was sent to Gaza.
According to the IDF and the Shin Bet, he returned to organizing and directing terrorist activity once he was released. The agencies state that during the current war he helped recruit operatives and took part in the production and placement of explosive devices aimed at Israeli forces.
Topics: Gaza, IDF
Reported by Sammy for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.