Sources in Israel's military have confirmed the death of Hamas top commander Ahmed al-Jaabari. Al-Jaabari ran the organisation's armed wing in the militant group.

Al-Jaabari died in a missile strike with another passenger in a car in Gaza City on the Gaza Strip. The car was targetted in the missle strike.

According to Isreael’s Shin Bet Intelligence Service, Jaabari was killed because of his terroristic activity that has spanned a decade.

The killing of Jaabari sparked protests in the city. Hundreds of members of the Palestinian Islamic movement and Hamas chanted for revenge. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in a statement that Jaabari’s assassination has “opened the gates of hell.” The Brigades continued by saying that militants would continue the path of resistance.

Jaabari was until his arrest in 1982, a member of the secular Palestinian National Movement, a bitter rival of Hamas. But, during his13 years in prison, he met with top Hamas leaders and converted to their cause.

Jaabari has been the target of other Israeli assassination attempts, one of which killed his eldest son in 2004.

Israel states that this strike is the first of many to come. Multiple other Israeli attacks have already rocked the strip.