Reports state Hamas political chief murdered in Israeli airstrike on hospital
(MENAFN) A high-ranking Hamas political leader was among five people killed in an Israeli airstrike on a hospital in Gaza on Sunday, according to the Palestinian militant group. Medical personnel were also reportedly among the casualties.
The attack comes amid Israel’s renewed military offensive in Gaza following the collapse of a ceasefire on March 1. The truce, initially brokered by the US and Arab states, ended after both sides failed to reach an agreement on its extension.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the strike hit the surgery department of the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. Doctors at the hospital told CNN that the airstrike occurred overnight, setting part of the facility on fire.
The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that it targeted a “key terrorist in the Hamas terrorist organization who was operating inside [the hospital].” It claimed the operation was based on extensive intelligence and was carried out using precision-guided munitions to minimize collateral damage.
Hamas has since identified the senior official killed as Ismail Barhoum, a member of its political office, along with his nephew, Ibrahim. According to Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV, Barhoum had been receiving treatment at the hospital for injuries sustained in a previous Israeli airstrike.
The group condemned the attack, arguing that it violated international laws protecting medical facilities during armed conflicts under the Geneva Conventions.
Israel resumed both air and ground operations in Gaza last week, accusing Hamas of refusing to release hostages and rejecting new ceasefire terms. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office declared that Israel would escalate its military actions against Hamas.
Hamas, in turn, has accused Israel of “unilaterally” ending the ceasefire, Reuters reported.
Palestinian authorities claim that the ongoing conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 50,000 deaths in Gaza. The war erupted after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli cities, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.
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