Hamas accused Israel and the Palestinian Authority of conspiring to kill Shilbayeh, who was imprisoned and tortured by the PA several times.
Hamas military spokesman in Gaza Abu Obeida confirmed Shilbayeh was a member of the group's armed wing: "The blood of our martyr will be a curse that will follow the occupation and the traitors," he said.
Hamas spokesman Salah Bardawil told the Palestinian Ma'an News Agency that the "resistance is capable of striking harshly at the occupation. Our battle with the occupation is not just about action and retaliation. It is a fateful battle that will never end."
Hamas' Sami Abu Zuhri, said that "the murder was the result of negotiations" between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He too blamed the PA and Fatah, saying "the occupation authority and Fatah are accomplices in the assassination."
The PA, meanwhile, also denounced the "assassination." Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said in a statement that "the assassination is a grave escalation and enhances the existing distrust in the already shaky peace process."
Palestinian sources said that dozens of military vehicles entered the village at 2 am. The occupation troops arrived at Shalabiya's house and grabbed his brother, Muhammad, to use as a human shield.
The force, said the brother, blew up the bedroom door and proceeded to shoot Shalabiya three times – once in the neck and twice in the chest, while he was in bed. His body was transferred to the Palestinian Distric Coordination Office several hours later.
Israeli occupation army Spokesman's Unit, however, claimed that the force was arresting suspects in the Palestinian village of Nur al-Shams when the shooting occurred.
Occupation soldiers claimed that during the operation, Shalabiya – who spent several years in Israeli prisons and was wanted for questioning – began running towards the soldiers in a menacing manner. They claimed that Shalabiya did not to adhere to their calls to stop, and once the soldiers determined they were in clear danger, they opened fire.
Following the incident, Palestinian security forces have declared high alert, amid concerns that Hamas will retaliate by launching attacks in the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, Palestinians in the occupied Al-Khalil area are saying that Israeli army troops have found a new way of ensuring cars stop for inspection.
According to Palestinian sources, the last few days have seen soldiers stationed in the sector between the Palestinian villages of Dura and Dahariya throw stun grenades at the road in order to stop Palestinian vehicles for inspection.
Ynet quoted a Palestinian driver as saying that the latest incident occurred on Wednesday night. The man said he was driving towards Dahariya around 10 pm, when an explosion happened just ahead of his car.
"At least one stun grenade exploded just ahead of me, and then several soldiers came out from one of the orchards and told me to get out of the car."
The troops, he said, asked him to disrobe, "which was humiliating. But I am not the only one to be harassed like that. It is my understanding that his has been going on for at least three days."
On Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, Israel launched two airstrikes on Gaza, killing one and injuring two others. The Israeli military claimed the strikes were in response to projectiles fired from the Strip.
On Saturday, Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinian shepherds on their land in Gaza, one of whom was 91 years old. Initial military reports said the men were terrorists; however, a later statement said they were non-combatants.
HAMAS: ISRAELI ATTACKS ATTEMPT TO DESTROY PALESTINIAN CAUSE
On Thursday Hamas said that Israeli rhetoric which uses the launching of projectiles from Gaza to "justify targeting civilians" is an attempt to destroy the Palestinian cause.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that strikes on Gaza affirmed the credibility of Hamas' stance that Palestinians would pay heavily for negotiations, which he said were a cover for Israeli violations.
"The occupation wants to keep public opinion busy with blood and body parts while it Judaizes Jerusalem and builds settlements in the West Bank," Barhoum said, adding that the attacks were launched simultaneously with direct peace talks.
Hamas and other resistance factions have declared its objection to the recent relaunch of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, saying that Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas does not represent the Palestinian people and is not authorized to negotiate on its behalf.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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