GAZA CITY, Aug 1: The armed wing of Hamas threatened on Thursday to kill 100 Israelis for any new attack on any of its leaders such as last week’s air strike on Gaza City.

The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, which claimed Wednesday’s bombing at Hebrew University in occupied Al Quds that killed seven people and wounded 70, vowed in a statement to pursue its attacks.

Ezzedine al-Qassam, whose military chief Salah Shehade was killed here last week in an Israeli air strike, said: “In response to the Israeli assassination of any leader from our movement ... we will kill 100 Zionists at least.”

The group said the university bombing was “one of a series” of reprisals for the July 22 Gaza air raid that killed Shehade and 14 other Palestinian, including nine children.

“We ask our military groups to continue in military operations and martyr operations,” it said, in a reference to Hamas attacks on Israeli targets and suicide bombings.

It vowed to “teach (Israeli Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon and (Defence Minister Binyamin) Ben Eliezer a lesson after they came to assassinate our leader.”

The group also criticized US President George W. Bush, whom they called the “head criminal” for his support of Israel and said Hamas would pursue its resistance.—AFP