The Palestine Human Rights Campaign is seriously concerned about the latest Israeli extra-judicial and dangerous act, in which the Hamas spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, was assassinated in a missile strike by Israeli helicopter gunships in Gaza City.

The assassination of Yassin comes as the latest indication of the Israeli government disregard to both the international legal conventions and the regional political realties.

It is absolutely deplorable, according to international law and conventions to regard assassination, incursions and house demolitions as acceptable practices in today’s military and political conflicts. In this context the assassination of Yassin should be condemned as not just illegal but also immoral. Indeed, the statement by the Deputy Israeli Defence Minister Ze'ev Boim on Monday, in which he stated that Yassin had been "marked for death" is echoing the unrestrained immoral savagery of the early 20th century military and political thinking and practices.

Further more, given the political realities on the ground, such a dangerous act will inevitably lead to unnecessary escalation. The assassination of Yassin will most likely just add fuel to the fire rather than enhancing the prospects of peace and negotiation.”

The Palestine Human Rights Campaign warns that Israeli policies of assassinations, walls and home demolition are making any peaceful breakthrough in the Israel/Palestine conflict a remote possibility. Furthermore, it seems that the Israeli government headed by Sharon is interested in keeping peace a remote possibility and violence the main theme of the day.