Israeli forces killed at least eight Palestinians and wounded 45 others in an intense bombing campaign in Gaza on Friday, while the Israeli army said it assassinated a senior Hamas official.
The Israeli bombardment, which comes despite a ceasefire in place since October, targeted residential buildings and vehicles in Gaza City, medical sources said.
The victims, who include a 45-year-old woman, were transferred to the Al-Shifa Hospital and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society’s field hospital in Gaza City.
Medical sources later said five of those killed were recovered from a building and three were recovered from a vehicle.
Hours after the attack, fires were still blazing in the Rimal neighbourhood due to the severity of the bombing. A building in Gaza City’s al-Jalaa Street also collapsed, leaving residents trapped under the rubble for hours.
Reports in local media, citing witnesses on the ground, said Israeli warplanes fired at least three missiles at the al-Mutaz building in the Rimal neighbourhood.
The Israeli military confirmed that three fighter jets took part in the airstrikes, which it claimed were part of an attempt to assassinate Hamas leader Izz al-Din Haddad.
Haddad has long served as a leader in Hamas’ armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, military council and assumed the position of commander after Israel assassinated Mohammed Deif and Mohammed Sinwar during the war on Gaza.
The army added at least 13 bombs were dropped on Gaza in the operation.
“We will continue to act with force and determination against all who took part in the October 7 massacre. This is a clear message to all the murderers who seek our lives: Sooner or later, Israel will get you,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement following the attack.
Reports in Israeli media, citing a security source, said Israel’s political leadership had approved the assassination around a week and a half ago, and that Israeli intelligence had been constantly monitoring Haddad since the order was approved.
Early on Saturday, mosques in northern Gaza confirmed the killing of Haddad, calling him a “martyr”.
A senior Hamas official confirmed the death of Haddad on Saturday.
The Israeli security establishment previously dubbed Haddad as “the ghost,” while Haddad was known locally as “Abu Suhaib,” after his son Suhaib was killed in an Israeli airstrike in January 2015.
He joined Hamas when it was founded in 1987 and has survived several Israeli assassination attempts, with his home being bombed more than once in previous onslaughts on Gaza, including in 2008, 2012, and 2021.
Despite the US-brokered ceasefire, Israel has continued launching daily attacks and demolitions in Gaza, with at least 800 killed since October.
The army has also escalated attacks on Gaza since the ceasefire between Israel and Iran was agreed, redirecting its onslaught to the besieged enclave.
Earlier this week, the conflict monitor ACLED said that Israel carried out 35 percent more attacks in April compared to March.
Gaza’s health ministry also said 120 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since the US-Israel war on Iran came to a halt on 8 April.
