Israel has been roundly condemned for its assassination this morning of Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and at least two of his bodyguards.
Within hours, hundreds of thousands of mourners attended a funeral procession in what was the biggest show of support for a Palestinian leader since Yasser Arafat's triumphant entry into the Gaza Strip in 1994.
Israeli security sources said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon personally ordered and monitored the helicopter attack this morning on the paralysed cleric, whose wheelchair lay smashed in a pool of blood after three missiles exploded outside a Gaza mosque.
His death has prompted calls for revenge by Hamas and condemnations from abroad.
At least seven other people died in the Gaza strike and two of Yassin's sons were among the 15 wounded.
The attack on Yassin, 67, as he and his entourage left dawn prayers may have been aimed at weakening Hamas to prevent it claiming victory if Mr Sharon goes ahead with a planned unilateral pullout from Gaza.
"The state of Israel this morning hit the first and foremost leader of the Palestinian terrorist murderers," Mr Sharon said.
However some Israelis, including a member of Mr Sharon's cabinet, Arab leaders and many Middle East political analysts, said Yassin's death would only encourage militants to step up their attacks on the Jewish state.
Mr Sharon has ruled out peace talks with the Palestinians until attacks on Israelis stop. He has threatened to draw a West Bank "security line" that would leave them with less land than they seek for a state should the road map collapse.
"It is a clear message to the world that the Israelis are not ready to sit with the Palestinians for peace," Palestinian Prime Minister Mr Ahmed Qurie told reporters after the killing, which he said "opened the door to chaos".
"Sharon, start preparing your body bags because (Hamas's) Qassam Brigades will put Israeli houses in mourning and make a funeral in every Israeli street," the crowd chanted.
The United Nations Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan condemned the assassination, saying it would do nothing to help Middle East peace efforts.
The European Union echoed Mr Annan's condemnation saying it undermined the legal basis for fighting terrorism.