Israel claims it has killed Hamas co-founder in Gaza strike

Israel claims to have killed an alleged mastermind of Hamas in an airstrike on Gaza. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) said it carried out a coordinated operation with the Israel Security Agency (ISA) to target Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa in the area of Sabra in Gaza City on Friday.

In a statement, the IDF said Al-Issa "was a senior figure in Hamas' military wing" and "was considered one of the founders of the terrorist organisation". The military said his current role was Head of Combat Support Headquarters in Hamas' military wing. It added that the suspected terror chief played a "significant role" in the "planning and execution" of the October 7 terror attacks in 2023, in which more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, were murdered, and 251 people were taken hostage.

The October 7 attack sparked the ongoing conflict still raging between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, and the associated humanitarian crisis in the territory.

A statement from the IDF said: "In a joint activity, the IDF and ISA struck and eliminated the terrorist Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa in the area of Sabra in Gaza City. Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was a senior figure in Hamas' military wing and was considered one of the founders of the terrorist organisation.

"In the past, Issa led Hamas' force-buildup efforts in the Gaza Strip, was one of the founders of its military wing, served as Head of the Training Headquarters, and was a member of Hamas' General Security Council. Additionally, Issa played a significant role in the planning and execution of the brutal October 7th massacre.

"Throughout the war, and over the past few days, Issa served as Head of the Combat Support Headquarters, and advanced aerial and naval terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip. Simultaneously, Issa operated to rebuild Hamas' organizational systems that were damaged during the war."

The statement continued: "Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was a key source of knowledge and one of the last remaining senior Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip who held high-ranking positions before October 7th, 2023.

"The IDF and ISA will continue to operate to locate and eliminate all terrorists from the different terrorist organisations who took part in the brutal October 7th massacre."

In Israel on Saturday thousands of Israelis demonstrated outside the IDF headquarters in Tel-Aviv demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu do more to reach a deal to secure the release of the last remaining Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.