GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- After surviving an Israeli assassination attempt, a Hamas leader said the militant group will not be cowed.

Mahmoud Zahar went into hiding after an Israeli missile strike flattened his Gaza home Wednesday.

But he told the Arab satellite TV station Al-Jazeera, "this course will not stop if we become martyrs.'' He said many who came before have been martyred and still it is considered a good thing.

Zahar was slightly injured in the attack, as were his wife and daughter. A son and a bodyguard were killed.

The attack followed two suicide bombings in Israel Tuesday that killed 15 Israelis.

The military wing of Hamas said there will be more bombings in retaliation for the attack on Zahar. A statement said Israel went over the line by targeting Zahar's home, and now Hamas will go after Israeli homes and high-rises.

The Israeli military said it targeted Zahar as a senior decision-maker in Hamas and one of those who directs suicide attacks.