In a written statement, the Israeli Air Force said its aircraft had killed Zuhair al-Qaissi, the leader of the "Popular Resistance Committees" terror organisation in the Gaza Strip. A second terrorist, Mahmoud al-Hanani, was also killed in the air strike. The IDF said the terror group had been planning an attack in Israel via the Sinai desert in the near future.
Zuhair al-Qaissi is believed to have organised the terror attacks that took place on Route 12 in August 2011 which injured 40 people. He had also publicly acknowledged his role in the kidnapping of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Militants in Gaza vowed to retaliate following al-Qaissi's death. More than 130 rockets have been fired at Israel, and further Israeli counterattacks have killed dozens of Palestinian militants in the worst escalation of violence since 2009.
