Hamas Officials Killed in Israeli Strikes
- AFP/Mahmud Hams
Gaza, VIVA – Hamas has confirmed the deaths of several top officials, including the head of its government in Gaza, Issam al-Daalis, in a series of Israeli airstrikes.
The strikes also killed Mahmud Abu Watfa, head of the interior ministry, and Bahjat Abu Sultan, director-general of the internal security service.
"These leaders, along with their families, were martyred after being directly targeted by the Zionist occupation forces' aircraft," said the Hamas statement, as per a report by AFP news agency.
The latest escalation shattered a two-month ceasefire, with Israeli forces ramping up military operations following Hamas's refusal to release hostages and rejection of ceasefire proposals.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had instructed the military to take “strong action” against Hamas, vowing to intensify military pressure on the group.
VIVA Militer: Tentara Israel mengelilingi mayat pemimpin Hamas, Yahya Sinwar
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“Israel will, from now on, act against Hamas with increasing military strength,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Palestinian health authorities reported that 413 people had been killed in the strikes, with many of the casualties being children.
Hospitals, already overwhelmed after the conflict first started in October 2023, struggled to accommodate the influx of injured.
Images from medical facilities showed bodies wrapped in white plastic sheets, smeared with blood, as emergency teams worked through the chaos.
The Israeli military stated that dozens of targets had been hit and warned that operations would continue as long as necessary, hinting at a potential resumption of ground combat.
Meanwhile, Hamas accused Israel of violating the fragile ceasefire reached in January, leaving the fate of 59 remaining hostages in Gaza uncertain.
International calls for restraint have intensified, with the United Nations' humanitarian coordinator for the region, Muhannad Hadi, calling for an immediate reinstatement of the ceasefire.
"Waves of airstrikes occurred across the Gaza Strip since the early hours of the morning... This is unconscionable," Hadi said in a statement, as quoted from India Today site.
Israel Panik Lihat Balon dan Layang-layang
Israel memperingatkan Hamas kalau mereka akan meningkatkan operasi militer di Gaza jika peluncuran balon, drone, dan layang-layang ke arah negeri Zionis berlanjut.
