Hamas leader threatens abductions of Israelis

Khaled Meshal, exiled leader of Hamas, has warned Israel that his terrorist organization will abduct Israeli soldiers should the Jewish state decide to invade the Gaza Strip with ground forces. “If you should commit the stupid act of entering Gaza, who knows, we could have a second or third Shalit,” said Meshal in reference to Gilad Shalit – an Israeli soldier who was kidnapped in June 2006 by Palestinian.

Appearing on television from Syria, Meshal said “We are ready for the challenge: this battle has been imposed on us but we are assured of having victory because we have prepared for it.” Meshal is the political leader of the Syrian branch of the Hamas, and leader of Hamas since the assassination of Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi in 2004.