Hamas reports leaders killed by Israel's attacks

ARCHIVE - Masked and armed members of the terrorist organization Hamas line up in Rafah in the Gaza Strip ahead of a planned release of Israeli hostages. Photo: Jehad Alshrafi/AP/dpa

Keystone

According to the terrorist organization, five members of its leadership were killed in the attacks on Hamas positions in the Gaza Strip.

Keystone-SDA

18.03.2025, 15:58

Hamas named Mahmoud Abu Watfa, head of the Hamas Interior Ministry and responsible for the police in Gaza, Issam al-Daalis, chairman of the government administration committee, and Bahjat Abu Sultan, responsible for Hamas' internal security apparatus, among others.

They all played a central role in Hamas' plans to rebuild its rule in the Gaza Strip after the end of the war, writes the news website "ynet".

According to Arab media reports, Israel's army is also said to have killed high-ranking members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), including the spokesman of its military wing.

According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 400 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks so far. The figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants and cannot currently be independently verified.

Palestinian media also reported that many women and minors were killed. Israel's army did not initially comment on casualties from its recent airstrikes when asked.