Aqsa Martyrs Commander Killed

(Gaza City) Sources report that the top al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades Commander, Raed Abayat, has been killed by Israeli Defense Forces. It's good news, in my estimation, because any time the heart of a terrorist stops beating, the world is a better place.

From ArabNews.com:

Witnesses said that the Israeli troops backed by tanks stormed into Beit Sahour town early yesterday morning and surrounded a building in the town where the top commander and his assistant were hiding. They added that a short exchange of fire between the commander and the Israeli soldiers resulted in the killing of Aqsa commander and the arrest of his assistant who was injured in the exchange of fire.

Medical sources confirmed the death of the commander and identified him as Raed Abayat, 31.

Israeli security sources said that the troops noticed two Palestinians hiding in a house in the town and called on them to surrender but when they spotted Abayat toting a rifle, they opened fire at him. The sources added that Abayat was wanted by Israel for five years for his involvement in the murder of Israelis.

A BBC report indicates that the Israeli troops tried to arrest Abayat but he refused and provoked a gunfight. And lost.