Israel targeted Hamas leaders with airstrikes near Khan Yunis. The military leader was not confirmed dead, but a top deputy was killed in the attack. Hamas claimed the military chief was still alive but provided no evidence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that there was uncertainty about the leader’s status.
Netanyahu emphasized that all Hamas leaders are targeted for elimination to push the group towards accepting a cease-fire deal. Hamas reported ongoing cease-fire talks and assured that the military chief was in good health. The Palestinian health officials reported civilian casualties from the airstrike near Khan Yunis.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed carrying out the strike on Hamas terrorists hiding among civilians. Witnesses said the attack occurred in a designated safe area for displaced Palestinians. Mohammed Deif, the Hamas military chief, has been a top target for Israel for years.
Rafa’a Salameh, a top deputy of Deif, was killed in the airstrike. Salameh was involved in previous attacks and abductions of Israeli soldiers. The IDF stated that Salameh was responsible for launching projectiles towards Israel.
In a separate targeted strike, a drone killed a prominent Syrian businessman near the Lebanon-Syria border. The businessman, Mohammed Baraa Katerji, was sanctioned by the US for trading oil with ISIS and facilitating weapons shipments.
The UN announced increased protection measures for its humanitarian aid operations in response to the ongoing conflict. The organization acknowledged challenges in aid delivery due to lawlessness and looting in Gaza. Commercial deliveries are more successful, but they involve paying protection money to families in the south and hiring armed guards, according to a source. The European Union recently imposed sanctions on five Israelis and three Israeli groups for their alleged involvement in human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. One of the groups targeted, Tzav 9, has been accused of obstructing humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip. Other individuals on the EU’s list include Ben-Zion Gopstein and Isaschar Manne, both facing asset freezes and travel bans to EU countries. The United States has also sanctioned these individuals and groups. This information was contributed by The Associated Press and Reuters.
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