Israel to target 'terrorists' in Hamas government

Israel has threatened to target any Hamas minister or official it believes to be involved in violence against Israeli targets. A senior military commander also disclosed that his troops were making contingency plans to reoccupy the Gaza Strip if Palestinian militants continued firing rockets across the border. "Beware all those who are ministers in the Hamas government and are involved in terrorist activity against Israel. We will punish them," said Ra'anan Gissin, a spokesman for Ehud Olmert, the prime minister-designate. "They will have no immunity just because they are members of the government or hold a position under it. They will be treated just like any other terrorist." A senior Israeli commander, Major General Yoav Galant, warned that Israel was seriously considering a large-scale land operation in the Gaza Strip if current levels of violence were maintained. Israel's latest saber-rattling was provoked by Hamas' appointment on Apr. 20 of one of the most wanted Palestinian gunman, Jamal Abu Samhadana, to head a new security force. Israel tried to assassinate him in 2004. Abu Samhadana, 43, commanded the umbrella Popular Resistance Committees in the Gaza Strip. "I will continue to hold the rifle and will pull the trigger whenever required to defend my people," he said. Israel, which tried to assassinate him in 2004, accuses him of ordering many attacks since the intifada broke out in 2000.