Senior Hamas leader among 23 killed in Israeli strikes in southern Gaza
A senior Hamas leader was killed in a dawn raid in southern Gaza, marking the latest escalation as Israel ramps up its military offensive in the region. Salah al-Bardawil, a high-ranking member of Hamas's political bureau, was killed alongside his wife during prayer in their shelter in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Sunday. Hamas accused Israel of assassinating him, stating that his death would strengthen their resolve in the fight for liberation and independence.
Since Israel broke the ceasefire on Tuesday, airstrikes across Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 634 Palestinians. The Israeli military has launched extensive aerial assaults on Gaza, especially on heavily populated areas, hospitals, schools, and mosques.
Al Jazeera's Tareq Abu Azzoum reported that the situation in Gaza remains critical, with no direct confrontations yet between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters. Before resuming attacks, Israel had blocked humanitarian aid and cut electricity supplies to Gaza since March 1. Additionally, a ground offensive was relaunched on Wednesday, with troops advancing into areas they had previously retreated from.
The renewed violence follows a period of relative calm during the ceasefire, which had been in effect since January 19, 2023. Israeli forces have killed nearly 50,000 people since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, in response to deadly Hamas attacks. The violence escalated after Hamas launched assaults on southern Israel, killing at least 1,139 people and taking around 250 captives, most of whom were later freed through negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that the goal of the offensive is to force Hamas to release the remaining captives. However, Hamas has accused Israel of disregarding the ceasefire and the captives' lives, accusing Netanyahu of sabotaging efforts to negotiate peace.
Hamas is reportedly considering a U.S. proposal to restore the ceasefire until the end of Ramadan and Passover, providing time for negotiations. Meanwhile, Israel has escalated its strikes on Lebanon following a rocket attack from across the border, risking a further breakdown of the November 2023 ceasefire with Hezbollah. Israel targeted cities in southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah denied responsibility and condemned the attacks as part of Israel’s broader escalation.
Since the beginning of Israeli strikes on Saturday, at least seven people have been killed, and 40 others injured.
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