Bye.

Sheikh Nizar Rayyan, a senior Hamas leader and cleric, was killed along with several others on Thursday when an IAF aircraft dropped a bomb on his Jabalya home, the IDF said. Palestinian medics said that seven people were killed and around 30 were wounded in the air strike. A large cloud of smoke billowed above the northern Gaza town after the attack, and Palestinian sources were quoted by Channel 2 as saying that the air strike was carried out by F-16 fighter jets. Security officials said that Rayyan was not only the religious leader of Hamas's military wing, Izzadin Kassam, but also one of their military commanders. He was often seen in uniform, and participated in military exercises. He was considered one of the most fanatical Hamas commanders, and was close to Hamas terrorist Salah Shehadeh, who was killed by the IAF in 2002.

Rayyan wasn't just "one" of Hamas's military leaders. He was the head of weapons production and the leader of Hamas's suicide brigades. He was also as mad as a hatter:

Hamas official Nizar Rayyan promised to turn the headquarters of the National Security Forces in Gaza into a big mosque and to deliver a sermon at the presidential headquarters. In addition, he said: "In a few hours, the secular era in Gaza will end without leaving a trace... Today heresy ends. Today the struggle is between Islam and the infidels, and it will end with the victory of the faith. [Once victorious], Hamas will open its arms to the members of the security forces, so that they will return to the faith, [for] Islam is generous with infidels [who repent]. We hold the truth and they [represent] falsehood... How can we not fight against those who desecrate the sanctity of Allah, execute clerics and sell out the Palestinian cause - those who blasphemed in houses of worship, burned mosques, Korans and [Islamic] education facilities and executed jihad fighters? We will hold dialogue with these [people] only through the barrels of our guns."

Here's another fun line: "We will never recognize Israel. There is nothing called Israel, neither in reality nor in the imagination." See what happens when you refuse to broaden your mind and close yourself off to the wonders of the imagination? See?

I do like how Hamas is describing this as a "new escalation". They apparently didn't get the hint from the 5 days of sustained bombing that Barak is serious about this "all-out war" thing. Given the indulgence with which they've previously been treated by the international community, though, it's not their fault that they were skeptical.

References:
* Nizar Rayyan considered successor of Ahmed Yassin [JPost]
* Analysis: Al-Qaida-style extremism gains real power within Hamas [JPost]
* Fears in PA: Gaza May Turn into Taliban-Style Emirate [MEMRI]
* Hamas deals swift blow to peace deal hopes [Guardian]
* Israel bombs Gaza in 'all-out war' on Hamas [AFP]

Previously:
* One-Third Of Hamas Launchers Too Deep In Residential Areas To Hit By Jet (Plus: Temporary Truce Rumors Debunked?)
* Counterterrorism Expert: Only A Particularly Stupid Useful Idiot Would Ever Suggest Engaging Hamas
* Times Online: These Hamas Guys Are Actually OK Dudes, "Gaza Is A Secular Society"