Gaza City: An Israeli helicopter fired five missiles at the car of a senior Hamas official on August 21, killing him and two bodyguards, the Islamic militant group said.

Hamas said it no longer felt bound by a three-month unilateral ceasefire it declared on June 29 and threatened retaliation. Two days earlier, Hamas had carried out a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, killing 20 people, but insisted at the time it was still observing the truce.

"We consider ourselves free from this ceasefire," said a Hamas official, Ibrahim Hanieh.

The Hamas official killed in the missile strike was identified as Ismail Abu Shanab.

There was no immediate comment by the Israeli military. In the past, Israel has repeatedly killed wanted Palestinians in targeted missile attacks. Israel had suspended the practice after militants declared the ceasefire.

Agencies