Gaza City: Israeli warplanes on September 10 bombed the home of a senior Hamas leader, Mahmoud Zahar, wounding him and killing three of his family members, witnesses and hospital officials said. In all, about 20 people were hurt.

The bomb hit the Zahar home in Gaza City's Rimal neighbourhood, levelling the building and sending huge plumes of smoke into the air. Several adjacent houses were damaged. Palestinian police were struggling to control an angry crowd that gathered at the scene.

Zahar was hurt in the leg, and taken to nearby Shifa Hospital.

The Israeli military had no immediate comment.

The air strike came a day after suicide bombers apparently dispatched by Hamas killed 15 Israelis in twin attacks at a bus stop crowded with soldiers and at a popular Jerusalem nightspot.

Hamas has stopped short of claiming responsibility for the bombings, but has threatened unprecedented revenge for Israel's failed attempt over the weekend to kill several Hamas leaders, including founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin, in an air strike.

Agencies