Mastermind Of February's Dimona Suicide Bombing Killed In Gunbattle With Security Forces In Hebron

A senior Hamas terrorist responsible for February's deadly suicide bombing in Dimona was killed early  Sunday morning during an arrest operation by Israeli security forces in Hebron. In a joint operation conducted by the IDF, Border Police and Shin Bet security forces surrounded the home of Shihab Natshe  a Hamams bomb expert.  Shots were fired from inside the house at security forces,  who returned fire. After Natshe refused to surrender to troops, his house was eventually bulldozed. During the exchanges of gunfire between the sides, several blasts were heard from inside the house which security officials believe was caused by explosives stored by the terrorist. In the February 4 suicide bombing in Dimona, Lubov Razdolskaya, 73 was killed and forty wounded. In Sunday's operation security forcces arrested Natshe's accomplice Wa'al Bit'ar and Hamas operative Abed Abu Aysha. A statement issued by Hamas declared its response would be both "swift and painful." 07/27/08