Israel kills Hamas politburo leader Keeps targeting the Group's infrastructure

The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) killed Jamila Abdallah Taha al-Shanti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and the first woman in the political bureau of Hamas.

Shanti, 68, was a founder of Hamas's women's movement and was married to Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi, a Hamas founder and leader, whom the Israeli Air Force killed by Hellfire missile in April 2004, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Jerusalem Post.

The US authorities have warned Israel's political and military leadership that their actions could lead to the Lebanese Iran-backed political-military group, Hezbollah being drawn into a military conflict with Tel Aviv, and urged them to be careful when striking the organisation.

Shelling Hezbollah positions could be an excuse for the Shiite movement's leadership to openly declare war on Israel.

"The administration of US President Joe Biden has privately urged Israel not to launch a military campaign against Hezbollah," the paper's interlocutors explained. In addition, sources close to the U.S. authorities emphasise that if Hezbollah is actively involved in military action, it could lead to the unfolding of a "global war" in the Middle East.

Investigation into Gaza hospital bombing

Italian intelligence has no evidence that Israel is responsible for the shelling of a hospital in the Gaza Strip.

"From the materials obtained by our intelligence during the exchange of information with other countries, it does not follow that Israel is responsible for the bombing of the hospital in Gaza. From what we have, Israel's responsibility seems to be excluded," Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani said.

He pointed out that Rome is working on the possibility of negotiations on a settlement, paying attention to humanitarian issues in the Gaza Strip.

Tajani called the issue of the prospect of an international peacekeeping mission in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, similar to the one that operates in Kosovo, interesting.

Besides, he wondered who would run Gaza. "The Israelis? I don't think so. Then who? United Nations? A coalition of the willing?" said Tajani, drawing attention to the need to support the lives of 2 million residents of the Gaza Strip.

Elimination of Hamas militants

Hundreds of Hamas infrastructure sites have been destroyed over the past 24 hours - in particular, dozens of such sites in the Shajaya area.

These include militant anti-tank positions, tunnels, intelligence infrastructure, operational headquarters, and more. In addition, the IDF attacked mortar fighters who were shelling Israeli territory.

Nukhba (Hamas special forces) fighters were eliminated, as well as more than a dozen fighters from other units.

An air strike killed Rafat Harab Hussein Abu Halal, head of the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees terrorist group in Rafah.

Israeli casualties

The Israeli Ministry of Health reports (as of 08:00 October 19) about 4,630 casualties during the entire war (since 7 October) due to rocket attacks and terrorist attacks.

Some 310 wounded are currently in hospitals, 80 of them in serious condition.

The number of hospitalised wounded is gradually decreasing. The condition of the wounded is stabilising.