Israel says it is again attempting to kill Palestinian militants, adding that its failed missile strike in Gaza Tuesday marked the resumption of the controversial assassination policy.
Israel stopped targeting militant leaders in February, as part of a truce deal. However, Israeli officials now say the policy has been reactivated to counter a series of new Palestinian attacks on Israeli targets in and near Gaza.
Evidence of the policy shift re-emerged Tuesday, when Israel confirmed that one of its missiles missed its intended target in northern Gaza. That attack occurred during an Israeli-Palestinian peace summit hosted by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jerusalem.
Hours later on Israeli television and radio, Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz confirmed the tactic, saying Israel reserves the right to attack militants at any time in any place.
Separately, Israel says it also will use air strikes to counter any militant attempts to disrupt its Gaza pullout in August.
Some information for this report provided by AP.