Israeli Special Forces kill Al Aqsa Brigades activist in cold blood

April 17, 2007

Jenin - Ma'an - Israeli forces assassinated Al Aqsa Brigades activist, 24-year-old Ashraf Mahmoud Hanaysha, at the entrance to Qabatiya, south of Jenin.

Medical sources informed Ma'an's correspondent that Hanaysha "was executed by the soldiers of a special unit while traveling in his car from Jenin to Qabatia".

The sources added "the soldiers were in a civilian car when they stopped Hanaysha at the entrance of the town, arrested him and took him to a forest near the main streets, before shooting him in the head, chest and stomach."

The Israeli forces arrested three other citizens that were with the man and took them to an unknown destination, the men were not identified.

Earlier on Tuesday the Al Aqsa brigades announced responsibility for the shooting of four Israeli settlers near Ramallah.

A spokesman of the brigades telephoned Ma'an and confirmed that the Al Aqsa Brigades carried out the attack.

A statement issued later said that the operation was "retaliation for the assassination and arrest operations the Israeli army is conducting against Palestinians".