A senior Hamas leader died during a pre-dawn strike conducted by Israeli forces in southern Gaza, further escalating tension in the region.
Salah al-Bardawil, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, was killed on Sunday along with his wife while praying in their tent shelter in Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian group, which accused Israel of assassinating him, Al Jazeera reported.
“His blood, that of his wife and martyrs, will remain fueling the battle of liberation and independence. The criminal enemy will not break our determination and will,” the group said in a statement.
No official confirmation of his death has been made by Israel so far.
Since Israel began its offensive on Tuesday several Hamas leaders have been killed.
According to reports, 22 others were killed apart from the Hamas leader during the strike.
Al Jazeera reporter Tareq Abu Azzoum said Israel has launched “fierce and extensive air attacks” on Gaza over the past few hours.
“The situation here remains critical,” Abu Azzoum said.
Osama Tabash
The Israel Defense Forces on Saturday said Hamas’s Military Intelligence chief Osama Tabash died during an airstrike on the Gaza Strip.
IDF resumed its air campaign on Tuesday by launching deadly strikes, shattering the calm which prevailed in Gaza ever since the ceasefire began on January 19.
Announcing his elimination, IDF wrote on X: “Head of Hamas’ Military Intelligence in Southern Gaza and Head of Hamas’ Surveillance And Targeting Unit, Osama Tabash.”
IDF said Tabash held various senior positions in Hamas, including a battalion commander in the Khan Yunis Brigade.
“Tabash was also responsible for formulating Hamas’ combat strategy on the ground, including coordinating the intelligence of Hamas’ military wing in southern Gaza and leading their activities in the area,” IDF said.
Rashid Jahjouh Eliminated
IDF confirmed Rashid Jahjouh, head of the Hamas General Security Service, was also killed recently.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X: “In recent days, the IDF and the Shin Bet attacked and eliminated the terrorist Rashid Jahjouh, head of the Hamas General Security Service, who assumed his position after the elimination of his predecessor, Sami Odeh, in July 2024, along with the terrorist Rawhi Mushtaha, head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip.”
He said a ‘terrorist’ named Ayman Aslih, commander of the Khan Yunis area in the security apparatus, was also eliminated.
He said the General Security Service, headed by Jahjouh, is considered a secret and central apparatus within Hamas.
“It is responsible for exposing those Hamas considers agents, securing the movement’s leaders and interests inside and outside the Gaza Strip, and working to suppress opponents of Hamas’s terrorist rule,” he said.
Islamic Jihad
Avichay Adraee said Islamic Jihad member Ismail Abdel-Al was eliminated during a raid conducted by the IDF and the Shin Bet.
“He was considered a prominent member of the Islamic Jihad’s arms smuggling network. In his position, he was responsible for most of the Islamic Jihad’s arms smuggling operations,” he said.
Adaree said the IDF and the Shin Bet will continue to operate against Hamas and to remove any threat to the citizens of Israel.
According to reports, 504 people have been killed since Israel resumed its strikes on Gaza on Tuesday.
The ongoing war erupted on October 7, 2023 in response to Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel that killed around 1,250 people and left more than 250 taken hostage.
Several hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners during the last phase of the ceasefire.
