Explosives kill. Spent Palestinian rocket. Illustrative. By Joshua Spurlock
The number one explosives leader in the Hamas terrorist organization was himself killed by an accidental explosion while reportedly preparing a new attack against Israel, according to reports in Israeli media. The Times of Israel, citing a Channel 2 report, said Muhammad Hemada Walid al-Quqa headed up the Hamas explosives team. The report cited Palestinian claims that Quqa was killed while “preparing something for the enemy.”
The Palestinian Ma’an News Agency cited a Hamas military wing statement that Quqa was killed during unspecified “preparations,” while noting that his violent resume included “jihadist activities, including manufacturing and assembling explosives.” Ma’an reported that the accidental blast occurred on Saturday evening, with Quqa dying from wounds suffered in the explosion on Sunday.
Hamas has long been an archenemy of Israel and has utilized rockets, suicide bombers, and other means to attack Israeli civilians. While Israel has long sought peace with the Palestinians, Hamas refuses to accept Israel’s right to exist at all.
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, speaking with Muslim leaders from Indonesia in January, highlighted this contrast in approaches between Israel and Hamas.
“We have no war with Islam,” said Rivlin in comments released by his office. “Unfortunately there are people who are rejecting the very idea of the State of Israel, like Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas who say loud and clear there is no way to recognize Israel—from an pan-Islamic point of view.”
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, February 5, 2017)