Politics Israel: Many leaders of the Hamas military wing killed

According to Israel's army, half of the leadership of Hamas' military wing has been killed. In total, the troops have "eliminated and arrested around 14,000 terrorists" since the start of the war more than nine months ago, according to a military statement. The army did not say whether these were exclusively members of Hamas or also members of other terrorist groups. According to estimates by the Israeli military, there were around 30,000 Hamas fighters before the war began.

So far, the military has reportedly attacked around 37,000 targets in the Gaza Strip from the air during the conflict. The information could not initially be independently verified.

Israel has come under international criticism for the many casualties among the Palestinian population and the immense damage in the coastal strip. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, at least 38,713 people have been killed since the start of the war. These figures, which do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, cannot be independently verified at present.

At the weekend, Israel's army attacked the leader of Hamas' military arm, the so-called Qassam Brigades. It is not yet clear whether Mohammed Deif was injured or killed in the attack. According to the military, the troops are continuing to pursue the men at the top of Hamas.