Hamas' military wing the Al-Qassam Brigades vowed Friday that it would respond to the killing of two senior commanders during an Israeli raid in Hebron.
Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Ubaidah said the militia would "reply in a suitable way to such a crime," to the killing of Nashat Al-Karmi, a senior military commander and Maamoun Al-Natsha, a local Hebron commander.
The killings, the spokesman said, would not "break the resistance and the fighters ... resistance fighters are free to reply at any time at any place."
Israel says militia leaders involved in fatal settler shooting
The Israeli army said the Hebron raid was carried out to detain those involved in the shooting deaths of four Israeli settlers near the Kiryat Arba settlement on 31 August, which Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for.
A statement issued by the military said during the arrest, one of the suspects opened fire, which was returned by troops who identified a hit, adding that the second casuality was caused when "forces employed engineering tools," to get the suspect to leave the building he was hiding in, after refusing to surrender.
The army further said six "terror suspects" were detained by forces, who they say were in possession of riffles.
Al-Karmi, 33, was released from Israeli prison in August 2009 and was "declared a wanted suspect" following the fatal settler shooting. Natsha was detained by Israeli forces in 2008 for his affiliation to Hamas.
According to the army statement, since 31 August, investigations and arrests have provided information on "planned future terror attacks and the re-establishment of the Hamas military wing in Hebron was revealed. The IDF will continue to pursue terror."
Curfew imposed
Earlier, locals said Israeli forces imposed a curfew on the southern West Bank district amid gunfire, adding that troops surrounded three homes belonging to Radwan Ar-Rajabi, Saadi Barwan and Ayoub Gheith, demolishing the fence surrounding the houses.
Israeli bulldozers were seen demolishing a three-story home in search of "wanted" Palestinians in hiding, witnesses said.
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