First Comment from Hamas on the Assassination of Mabhouh

In its initial response to the assassination of Major General Faiq Mabhouh, the director of central police operations in Gaza, Hamas issued the following statement: "The cowardly assassination operation carried out by the occupation during its aggression against Al-Shifa Hospital against the martyr Major General Faiq Abdel-Raoof Mabhouh, the director of central police operations in Gaza, is a crime that follows the efforts of the martyr and the security agencies to maintain security and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Gaza and North governorates. The occupation aims to prevent the safe delivery of aid to our people." The statement continued: "This terrorist crime targeting the civilian police, protected under international humanitarian law, is further evidence of the enemy's Nazi-like pursuit to spread chaos, disrupt societal peace, and perpetuate the starvation that our people are suffering, in execution of a plan for genocide and the displacement of our people from their land."