Hamas appoints new terror chief, warns of surprises still in store for Israel

Palestinian protestors hold a sign of Ahmed Jabari, slain Hamas' military mastermind, during a demonstration supporting Hamas in the West Bank city of Nablus on Nov. 16. Photo by Abed Omar Qusini/Reuters

Hamas’s military wing announced the successor to slain commander, Ahmed Jabari, on Thursday, and promised deadly surprises for Israel.

The new commander of Hamas’s Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades is Marwan Abed al-Khareem Issa, 48, a native Gazan from Jabaliyya. Issa served as Jabari’s deputy for years, and commanded special units in Islamic Jihad’s military wing, according to Israel Hayom.

Hamas took responsibility for the deadly rocket attack in Kiryat Malachi that killed three Thursday and Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum warned, “Hamas has capabilities that will surprise Israel. We have the ability to carry out accurate attacks deeper into Israel.” Barhoum claimed that Hamas refused Israel’s request for a cease-fire, and that Hamas “has the power strike the enemy’s cities.”

In a televised speech on Hamas’s official TV station, faction leader Ismail Haniyeh warned that “After firing at Tel Aviv, Hamas has yet to show its full force ... in 2009 we held our ground until the enemy begged for a cease-fire. Our strength comes from Islam and we will show our ability to endure this time as well.”