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| Hamas accuses Israel of killing its Tunisian drone expert | Hamas accuses Israel of killing its Tunisian drone expert |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The Palestinian militant group Hamas has blamed Israel for the death of a Tunisian national it described as one of its drone experts. | The Palestinian militant group Hamas has blamed Israel for the death of a Tunisian national it described as one of its drone experts. |
| Mohamed Zaouari, 49, was shot dead at the wheel of his car outside his home in Tunisia's second city, Sfax, on Thursday. | Mohamed Zaouari, 49, was shot dead at the wheel of his car outside his home in Tunisia's second city, Sfax, on Thursday. |
| The Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, said he had worked for the "resistance" for 10 years. | The Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, said he had worked for the "resistance" for 10 years. |
| It declared a day of mourning and vowed to avenge Mohamed Zaouari's death. | It declared a day of mourning and vowed to avenge Mohamed Zaouari's death. |
| Israel has not responded to the claims. | Israel has not responded to the claims. |
| "Qassam Brigades mourns the martyr of Palestine, martyr of the Arab and Muslim nation, the Qassam leader, engineer and pilot Mohamed Zaouari, who was assassinated by Zionist treacherous hands on Thursday in Sfax," a statement posted on the group's website said. | "Qassam Brigades mourns the martyr of Palestine, martyr of the Arab and Muslim nation, the Qassam leader, engineer and pilot Mohamed Zaouari, who was assassinated by Zionist treacherous hands on Thursday in Sfax," a statement posted on the group's website said. |
| "The enemy must know the blood of the leader Zaouari will not go in vain," the statement added. | "The enemy must know the blood of the leader Zaouari will not go in vain," the statement added. |
| Hamas's relationship with Israel | Hamas's relationship with Israel |
| Hamas, which rules the Gaza strip, is seen as a legitimate resistance group by its supporters - but is classed as a terrorist outfit by the US and EU. | Hamas, which rules the Gaza strip, is seen as a legitimate resistance group by its supporters - but is classed as a terrorist outfit by the US and EU. |
| It refuses to recognise Israel as a country, and regularly fires rockets from Gaza into the Jewish state. | It refuses to recognise Israel as a country, and regularly fires rockets from Gaza into the Jewish state. |
| Israel has held Gaza under a blockade for the past decade, and conducted several offensives and air strikes against the territory - which it says are needed to curtail Hamas rocket fire. | Israel has held Gaza under a blockade for the past decade, and conducted several offensives and air strikes against the territory - which it says are needed to curtail Hamas rocket fire. |
| Tunisia's interior ministry said a Tunisian woman had been arrested at Tunis airport, on suspicion of involvement in the murder. | Tunisia's interior ministry said a Tunisian woman had been arrested at Tunis airport, on suspicion of involvement in the murder. |
| It said that four rental vehicles had been seized, along with two guns equipped with silencers. | It said that four rental vehicles had been seized, along with two guns equipped with silencers. |
| Deputy prosecutor general Mourad Turki told the private radio station Shems FM that the arrested woman was a journalist who had previously interviewed the victim. | Deputy prosecutor general Mourad Turki told the private radio station Shems FM that the arrested woman was a journalist who had previously interviewed the victim. |
| He added that eight Tunisian suspects had been detained, and two others were still at large. | He added that eight Tunisian suspects had been detained, and two others were still at large. |
| Mohamed Zaouari has been buried in Sfax. Private radio station Mosaique FM reported that his body was riddled with 20 bullets. | |
| Hamas has offered no proof of its claims that Israel was behind the murder, but the country is believed to have assassinated members of militant groups abroad in the past. | Hamas has offered no proof of its claims that Israel was behind the murder, but the country is believed to have assassinated members of militant groups abroad in the past. |
| In 1997, agents from the Israeli spy agency Mossad conducted a failed bid to kill Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Jordan by spraying poison into his ear. | In 1997, agents from the Israeli spy agency Mossad conducted a failed bid to kill Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Jordan by spraying poison into his ear. |
| Mossad is also believed to have been behind the 2010 murder of top Hamas militant Mahmud al-Mabhuh, who died in a Dubai hotel. | Mossad is also believed to have been behind the 2010 murder of top Hamas militant Mahmud al-Mabhuh, who died in a Dubai hotel. |
| Israel has never confirmed or denied involvement in his killing. | Israel has never confirmed or denied involvement in his killing. |