Key Hamas Leader Killed During Thursday Attacks

Cleric Nizar Rayyan, one of the most hardline political leaders of Hamas was killed during an air attack on his home Thursday morning.

Many Hamas leaders have gone into hiding knowing that Israel intends on assassinating them during this latest military action between the two fractions. Rayyan, 49, was at his home when the attack occurred. Nine other people, including members of Rayyan's family was killed during the bombing of a Jabalya refugee camp. Rayyan had called for suicide bombings to take place within Israel. Reuters reports:

"The blood of Sheikh Nizar Rayyan and the blood of other martyrs will never be wasted and the enemy will pay a heavy price for the crimes it committed," said Hamas official Ayman Taha.

Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert spoke hours before the attack. He said that Israel will fight Hamas with an "iron fist." Those words were in mind when Israel set forth a series of air strikes in the Gaza Strip. That action was challenged by rockets that killed four people in southern Israel. In the sixth day of armed conflict Israel attacked about 20 targets in the Gaza Strip, including a government complex. Hamas has returned fire, striking out at southern Israeli targets. The deadliest conflict in the Gaza Strip of four decades, this intitive looks to get bloodier before it is over.