By Xinhua
Gaza : Islamic Hamas movement on Monday warned that Israel will pay heavy price if the Jewish state harms Hamas leaders in response to Qassam rocket attacks targeting southern Israel from the Hamas-ruled Gaza.
“The Israeli threats against senior leaders like Prime Minister Ismail Haneya are dangerous escalation that we strongly warn against,” said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
Israel will pay the price for any “stupid act it may commit,” said Abu Zuhri, adding that if the crimes were carried out, Hamas’ response “would be unprecedented.”
“We will resort to all means to face such thing,” he added.
Abu Zuhri admitted that Hamas leaders “take tight security measures,” but these measures “won’t cause our leaders to be absent from their role in any way.”
His remarks followed report that the deposed prime minister went underground.
Several Israeli leaders called for assassinations of Hamas leaders in response to the makeshift rockets that Gaza fighters launch into southern Israel, especially in Sderot city.
Israel has imposed a very tight siege on the Gaza Strip since Hamas took over the coastal enclave by force last June.