One killed and six wounded by Israeli missile

A Hamas militant was killed when an Israeli helicopter fired a missile at a car in Gaza City tonight.

Witnesses said parts of a dismembered body were pulled from the wreckage of the car. Hospital officials said one person was killed and six wounded, two seriously, all bystanders returning from a &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/war/2003/04/10/45890.html' target=_blank>mosque.

Eyewitness Omar Arfa, 52, said: "A spark came from the sky, then there was a huge explosion in part of street," he said.

The military had no official comment, but military sources said an &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2002/09/14/36639.html' target=_blank>Israeli attack helicopter carried out the attack, The Scotsman News reported.

According to Reuters, the missile, which witnesses said was fired by an airforce drone, ripped through a car carrying a senior field commander of Hamas's Izz el-Deen al-Qassam brigades, Khaled Abu Selniya, 33. He was killed on the spot and six passersby were hurt.

Israel often launches missile strikes on &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2001/10/02/16784.html' target=_blank>Palestinian militants and metal workshops it suspects are used to produce weapons used against Israelis.

Earlier this year Israeli forces assassinated Hamas' spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and his successor, Abdelaziz Rantissi.