Early this morning, Israeli forces assassinated the spiritual leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, Sheik Ahmed Yassin. He was killed by a missile fired from a helicopter gunship as he returned from a mosque in Gaza City at daybreak. At the time of the airstrike, Yassin was being pushed in his wheelchair by an aid. Seven others were killed and many more wounded in the attack. Yassin is by far the most high profile Palestinian assassinated during the second intifida.

The assassination has sparked massive street protests as tens of thousands of Palestinians marched in a funeral procession. The Palestinian Authority declared three days of mourning and a general strike has been called. The Hamas leadership said Sharon had “opened the gates of hell” and the group vowed all-out war.