Israel kills Hamas co-founder in Gaza strike

The Israeli Defense Forces and the Israel Securities Authority killed Hamas co-founder Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa in a strike in Gaza City on June 27, a statement from the IDF said.

In a statement, the IDF described Al-Issa as 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 7, 2023," Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media. 

At the time of his death, he was reportedly serving as the head of Hamas’ combat support headquarters.

Al-Issa was also identified as a member of Hamas' General Security Council and was previously responsible for the group’s force-buildup operations in Gaza, including overseeing its training headquarters. The IDF further claimed that he played a "significant role" in planning and executing the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, though it did not elaborate on his specific actions.

The October 7 assault by Hamas led to the deaths of over 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of more than 250 individuals, according to Israeli authorities. Nearly two years on, around 50 hostages are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza, with 28 of them presumed dead.

Since that attack, Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip has resulted in the deaths of more than 56,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the enclave. The ongoing conflict has left tens of thousands more injured, displaced, and facing critical shortages of essential resources such as food, clean water, and medical supplies.

By Khagan Isayev