In this picture, taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip, an Israeli military helicopter fires its machine gun. AFP
Israeli forces recently carried out a strike that killed Rashid Jahjouh, head of Hamas General Security Service, who took over the role after Sami Oudeh was killed in July 2024, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said in a post on X.
The internal security agency in Gaza is responsible for "combating espionage and providing information to the political leadership to support planning and decision-making," according to the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance.
In a separate raid, Israeli forces killed Ismail Abdel-Al, "a prominent member of the Islamic Jihad's arms smuggling network," Adraee said.
On Tuesday, Israel resumed its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip, shattering the fragile ceasefire that had held since 19 January.
Hamas had sought to uphold the deal, which set out a phased captive/prisoner release, followed by negotiations for a permanent truce in the second phase. However, Israel refused to move forward, blocking talks on a full withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire, while imposing preconditions, restricting humanitarian aid, and stalling negotiations.
Hamas has said it remains open to talks but insists no new agreements are needed. “We have no conditions, but we demand that the occupation be compelled to immediately halt its aggression and war of extermination, and begin the second phase of negotiations,” Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP on Thursday.
Hamas on Tuesday named Essam al-Dalis, head of its administration in Gaza, and interior ministry head Mahmud Abu Watfa among a list of officials it said were killed in Israeli strikes this week. The Israeli military confirmed it had killed Dalis, a member of Hamas’s political bureau who took charge of its administration in June 2021.
Other key figures killed included Bahjat Abu Sultan, director-general of the internal security service, and Ahmed al-Hetta, Hamas’s deputy minister of justice.
Palestinian officials condemned the assassinations, saying they would not deter the administration from continuing its operations.
Meanwhile, at least 710 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed and more than 900 injured in Gaza since Israel resumed its assault on Tuesday, Gaza's Health Ministry spokesperson Khalil al-Daqran said on Thursday.
Al-Daqran added that 70 percent of the casualties were women and children, with many suffering severe injuries.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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