The militant Muslim organization has a relatively small following in Israeli-held territories, certainly compared with the better-organized Hamas group.

Fox News, it says, "reported Torricelli was the keynote speaker at an event sponsored by an Islamic Hamas terrorist group."

An Israeli soldier on the rescue team and three kidnappers from the Hamas group of Muslim radicals were also killed, the Israelis said.

In 1999, Barghouti traveled to the West Bank where he joined the Hamas paramilitary group.

And with the Islamic Holy War and Hamas groups both threatening new attacks, other officials said that there may be no way to block them all.

He said other prisoners would follow, including Sheik Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of the militant Hamas group.

An armed wing of the Hamas group of Islamic militants claimed responsibility.

The United States and Israel have long accused the foundation of financing activities of the Hamas terrorist group.

Leaders of the militant Hamas group said today that their organization was continuing to refrain from suicide attacks inside the boundaries of pre-1967 Israel.

On one such trip, according to British press reports, he may have met with Nabil abu Aukel, identified as a member of the Hamas terrorist group.