Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian movement Hamas, vowed retaliation against killing Palestinian ex-detainee Mazen Fuqha who was shot dead on Friday evening in the Gaza Strip.

In a statement released on Saturday, the brigades held Israel responsible for assassinating Fuqha, warning that Israel would pay for this crime.

Israel will regret starting this "calm assassination" series against "resistance heroes" in Gaza, the Palestinian brigades stressed.

Fuqha was sentenced to life in prison and additional 50 years for planning a suicide bombing in Meron Crossing in 2002, where nine Israelis were killed. 

Fuqha was released as part of a prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hamas in 2011 that involved the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.

Source: MENA