Israel Steps Up Attack on Hamas

Israel is escalating both its shooting war and its war of words with Hamas over the Gaza Strip. An Israeli air assault today killed at least five people and came on the heels of a massive attack targeting a Hamas leader over the weekend. That strike missed Khalil al-Hayya but killed seven family members and caused widespread protests.

A top Israeli minister, meanwhile, threatened Hamas' leaders directly. "We have to put them all in the crosshairs," he said. Hayya responded: "If I was killed today, even if all the leaders were killed, the Palestinian people would replace me and them with hundreds of other leaders." Hamas is also threatening to renew suicide attacks on Israel. (More Hamas stories.)