Did the Israeli military eliminate a senior Hamas leader in Gaza?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Israeli military claims to have killed a senior Hamas commander.
- The operation was conducted in Gaza City.
- Al-Issa was linked to the planning of the October 7 attack.
- He played a key role in Hamas' military operations.
- The situation in Gaza remains highly volatile.
On June 29 (NationPress), the Israeli military announced that its forces had successfully targeted and killed a senior commander of Hamas in an airstrike conducted in Gaza City. This individual was recognized as a pivotal player in the group's military expansion and in orchestrating the attack on southern Israel on October 7.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the operation took place on Friday evening in the Sabra neighborhood, resulting in the death of Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa. The operation was executed in collaboration with the Shin Bet domestic security agency.
The military characterized Al-Issa as a founding member of the military wing of Hamas, asserting that he held a crucial role in the planning and execution of the Hamas assault on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. This attack resulted in the deaths of at least 1,200 individuals in Israel and the abduction of over 200 hostages to Gaza.
In his latest position, Al-Issa led the combat support headquarters for Hamas' military wing, where he was purportedly responsible for overseeing aerial and naval assaults targeting Israeli civilians and soldiers. He was also engaged in initiatives to restore Hamas' operational capabilities amid the ongoing conflict, the statement indicated.
Al-Issa previously directed Hamas's training headquarters and was a member of its general security council. The military described him as one of the last senior Hamas operatives remaining in the Gaza Strip, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
As of now, Hamas has not responded to Israel's assertion. Following a two-month ceasefire, Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza on March 18.
Furthermore, the Israeli army conducted bombings in the village of Al-Masdar located in the central Gaza Strip and east of Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, according to reports from the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.