Hamas TV show kills militant mouse

Gaza: A Mickey Mouse lookalike who preached Islamic domination on a children's television show affiliated with Hamas was beaten to death during the show's final episode on Friday.

In the final sketch, the character Farfour was killed by an actor dressed as an Israeli official trying to buy Farfour's land. The mouse referred to the Israeli as a "terrorist".

Teenage presenter Sara said, "Farfour was martyred while defending his land." He was killed "by the killers of children," she added.

The weekly show, "Tomorrow's Pioneers," had attracted worldwide attention because the character urged Palestinian children to fight Israel. It was broadcast on Hamas-affiliated Al Aqsa TV.

Station officials said Farfour was taken off the air to make room for new programmes.