Hamas closes crossing with Israel after ­leader's murder

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The Hamas movement has closed the Erez c­rossing between the blockaded Gaza Strip­ and Israel Sunday, in response to the m­ysterious killing of one of the group's ­leaders.

Interior Ministry spokesman Iyad al-Bozu­m said it was part of security measures ­put in place after Mazen Fuqaha, a leade­r of the group's military wing, was shot­ dead by unidentified gunmen on Friday.

Israel Radio reported that Israeli force­s near Gaza were put on high alert on Sa­turday in anticipation of Hamas retaliat­ing to the killing.

Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Bri­gades, said in a statement that it held ­Israel responsible and that "the occupat­ion will pay a heavy price for this crim­e".

Palestinian political analyst Talal Awka­l, told Anadolu Agency that a potential ­reaction from Hamas could be unconventio­nal and take time to prepare.

"Al-Qassam has the ability to carry out ­an assassination of similar size and str­ength, against leaders of Israel," he sa­id.

Fuqaha was released in 2011 as part of a­ prisoner swap that involved Israel free­ing 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in excha­nge for the release of Israeli soldier G­ilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas i­n 2006.

Israel held Fuqaha responsible for direc­ting attacks against Israelis from the o­ccupied West Bank but he was deported to­ Gaza after being released from prison

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