GAZA CITY, September 6 (IslamOnline.net) - Minutes after the European Union blacklisted the political wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, Israel crossed what the Palestinians deem the "red line" with an assassination attempt against Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassein and political leader Ismael Haneya, slightly injuring the aging, crippled Hamas founder.

According to IslamOnline.net correspondent in Gaza, an Israeli F-16 fighter jet fired yet unknown number of missiles towards a three-story building at Al-Rimal downtown neighborhood in Gaza City, completely destroying the third floor, wrecking havoc on the building and damaging two neighboring homes.

The target of the air strike was the apartment of Mounir Abu Ras, a professor at Gaza City's Islamic University.

Sheikh Yassein, Hanya and other Palestinian figures were attending a wedding at the hit building.

The spiritual leader of Hamas was slightly injured in his hand and was seen on his way to the hospital, in a good condition.

Palestinian medical sources told IOL that 15 Palestinians were wounded, one of them critically.

The sources added that Abu Ras was moderately injured.

Palestinian sources told IOL that all Hamas leaders present in the building survived the missile attack unscathed and were all removed to a safe place.

At Al-Shifaa Hospital in Gaza, thousands of Palestinians hurried to check on the highly-respected and revered Sheikh Yassein.

Once the crowd was told he was fine, they all shouted "Allah Akbar" God is Greatest.

The dangerous Israeli escalation came shortly after the European Union foreign ministers reportedly reached a consensus to include the political wing of Hamas on the EU's "terrorist" list.

On the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Italy, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told reporters a "consensus has been found to decide to include Hamas on the list of terrorist organizations".

The military wing of Hamas has been on the EU blacklist since late 2001.

De Villepin said the decision to blacklist Hamas' political wing as well would be confirmed at a forthcoming EU ministers' meeting.

But he said the move should also lead to greater Israeli efforts to seek an end to violence in the Middle East.

"(The decision) should be part of a new initiative, a forthright and determined approach by the international community," he said.

"We strongly urge Israel to engage fully in the implementation of the roadmap (for Middle East peace) with concrete gestures."

This included Israel halting the building of new Jewish settlements and ending the construction of a separation wall "along a route that prejudges political decisions", he said.

The EU decision to blacklist Hamas' political wing means funds it holds in all EU countries will be blocked.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw confirmed to reporters in Riva del Garda that the E.U. foreign ministers had "taken a political decision to freeze the assets of Hamas".