15-Year-Old Hunted, Commander Of Palestinian Gaza's Northern Division Killed In Israeli Airstrike

JAKARTA - The Israeli military (IDF) claims to have killed a senior Palestinian militant commander in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, in an airstrike carried out Monday, May 17.

According to the Times of Israel, Israel conducted airstrikes on a number of locations designated as Palestinian militant tunnels in Gaza. The attack also targeted the residences of senior Palestinian militant leaders.

In its statement the IDF claimed it had killed Hussam Abu Harbeed, commander of the Palestinian Northern Gaza Division who had been wanted for the past 15 years, for his involvement in gun clashes with Israel.

"He (Abu Harbeed) led attacks on the Israeli army for nearly 15 years. He is also suspected of being directly responsible for the shots of anti-tank missiles that wounded Israelis last week," the IDF said.

Separately, an Israeli general said it would continue the fighting, although Abu Harbeed's death is likely to receive a backlash from militant groups fighting alongside Hamas.

Brigadier General Yaron Rosen, a former commander of Israel's air division, said Israel and Hamas could both survive in attack situations.

"The IDF can do this forever. And they (Hamas) can continue their rockets, unfortunately, also for a very long time. But the price they pay is going up even higher," he told reporters, according to Reuters.

For the record, the Israeli military says at least 130 Palestinian fighters have been killed since fighting began last week.

In addition, airstrikes this time also killed a number of Palestinian civilians. At least three Palestinians were also killed by an Israeli airstrike on a car in Gaza City on Monday, medics said.

Another Palestinian was killed in an airstrike in the city of Jabalya. Gaza medical aid and health officials said that as a result of the attack the death toll of civilians rose to 201, including 58 children and 34 women. Ten people were killed in Israel, including two children, Israeli authorities said.