Israel says it killed Hamas co-founder in Gaza Metropolis strike

The Israeli Protection Forces and the Israel Securities Authority killed Hamas co-founder Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa in a strike in Gaza Metropolis on Friday, an announcement from the IDF mentioned.

Al-Issa was hit within the space of Sabra throughout the metropolis, the assertion mentioned.

“Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was a key supply of data and one of many final remaining senior Hamas terrorists within the Gaza Strip who held high-ranking positions earlier than October seventh, 2023,” the IDF mentioned.

The Israeli navy described Al-Issa as a senior determine within the militant group’s navy wing and mentioned he was thought of a founding father of each Hamas itself and Hamas’ navy wing. On the time of his dying, he was serving as head of its fight help headquarters.

Al-Issa was additionally a member of Hamas’ Common Safety Council, the IDF mentioned. Up to now, Al-Issa led the group’s “force-buildup efforts within the Gaza Strip” and served as head of the coaching headquarters.

The IDF mentioned Al-Issa “performed a major function within the planning and execution of the brutal October seventh bloodbath,” however uncared for to share what function he performed.

Greater than 1,200 individuals had been killed when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and took greater than 250 individuals hostage. Practically two years later, 50 individuals stay in captivity in Gaza, however 28 of these individuals are believed to be useless.

Israel’s retaliatory assault on the Gaza Strip has killed greater than 56,000 individuals and has left 1000’s extra wounded, displaced and with sparse assets, together with meals, water and medical provides.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday indicated {that a} ceasefire may come into play throughout the subsequent week. It was not clear whether or not it could be a brief or everlasting ceasefire, or if any prisoner exchanges could be concerned like in previous momentary ceasefire agreements.

In the course of the struggle between Israel and Hamas, Al-Issa labored to rebuild Hamas’ organizational methods that had been broken in Israeli strikes, the IDF mentioned. Additionally all through the struggle, the IDF mentioned Al-Issa superior assaults towards Israeli residents and IDF troops in Gaza.

The IDF in its assertion pledged to “find and remove all terrorists from the totally different terrorist organizations who took half within the brutal October seventh bloodbath.”

Israel has killed quite a few different high-ranking Hamas officers because the Oct. 7 assault, together with chief Mohammed Sinwar in Could.