Gaza: Senior Hamas commander Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Saturday that its forces conducted an airstrike in Gaza City on Friday evening, resulting in the death of Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, a senior Hamas military leader.
The operation took place in the Sabra neighborhood and was coordinated with the Shin Bet security agency.
According to the IDF, Al-Issa was a founding member of Hamas’ military wing and played a pivotal role in planning and executing the October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in at least 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 200 hostages taken to Gaza.
In his last role, he led Hamas’ combat support headquarters, overseeing aerial and naval attacks, and was involved in rebuilding Hamas’ operational infrastructure during the ongoing conflict.
Al-Issa had previously managed Hamas’ training facilities and served on its security council. The military described him as one of the last senior operatives in Gaza. Hamas has yet to comment on his death.
Since Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire, the conflict has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties, with over 6,000 killed and 21,000 injured, according to Gaza health authorities. Overall, since October 2023, Palestinian fatalities have reached approximately 56,000, with over 133,000 wounded.
Amid the ongoing violence, reports indicate continued Israeli strikes targeting refugee camps, schools, and residential areas. Recent attacks have resulted in multiple casualties, including children. In Gaza City, strikes near Jaffa School killed eight Palestinians, five of whom were children.
Another attack near a stadium caused the deaths of at least 11 people, including children, while in Al-Mawasi, 14 individuals were reported killed in separate strikes on buildings and tents.
