Hamas official threatens to target Israeli ministers

     A senior Islamic Hamas leader threatened Saturday that if Israel targets any Hamas ministers, Israeli ministers would be targeted by Hamas. In a response to Israeli threats to target the Islamic movement's leaders in Gaza, Mushir al-Masri issued a statement saying "at any Israeli stupidity of targeting Hamas leaders or ministers, Hamas will likewise take action." Following an increase in armed attacks carried out by Gaza militants against Israel, Israeli officials have said that if attacks against Israel continue, Hamas' leaders would be targeted. Vis-a-vis the Israeli threats to target ministers, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh or any other leader, al-Qassam Brigades would treat the Israelis on the principle of head for head and minister for minister," al-Masri said. The Hamas movement, classified by the European Union and the U.S. as a terrorist organization, seized control over the Gaza Strip in mid-June and routed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces, also Haaretz reported. Israel in return termed the Gaza Strip a hostile entity after imposing a strict blockade on the enclave and closed down border crossings". Last week, a spokesman for Hamas' military wing said that a Palestinian sniper who fired at a group of Israelis and visiting Canadians near Gaza was targeting Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter. The minister's aide was hurt in the attack. The spokesman said that the attack came in the framework of "Palestinian resistance acts in response to enemy crimes and to the continued siege on the Strip." In October 2001, members of Islamic Jihad assassinated Minister Rehavam Ze'evi at his hotel room in Jerusalem. (23,36)