IDF kills Hamas military commander in West Bank

The Jerusalem Post (Link) (September 16, 2010)

IDF soldiers killed a Hamas military commander overnight Thursday during security operations east of the West Bank city of Tulkarm, the IDF spokesperson�s Unit said in a statement on Friday morning.

The statement said that the Hamas member, Iyad Abu Shalabiya, ran towards IDF soldiers in a threatening manner, and had ignored the IDF�s requests to cease his approach, resulting in him being shot.

Miltary sources said that Shalabiya spent several years in Israeli prisons and was wanted for questioning. Twelve other suspects were arrested during the raid.

The circumstances of the incident are under investigation.

The shooting comes two days after 10 rockets and mortar shells � including two containing phosphorus � were fired into Israel from the Gaza Strip as defense officials predicted that the violence would quiet down after Succot.

Rockets and shells pounded the Eshkol region throughout the day. One of the rockets � a 122-mm. Katyusha � hit just north of Ashkelon. No injuries or damage were reported.