Senior Hamas spokesperson killed in Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza

Hamas spokesperson Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua was killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza, Hamas-affiliated media announced on March 25. His death marks the latest in a series of targeted strikes against Hamas figures since Israel resumed its military operations in the enclave.

According to the Hamas-run Al-Aqsa television, Al-Qanoua was killed when an Israeli airstrike targeted his tent in Jabalia, Caliber.Az reports, citing Reuters.

The same attack wounded several others, while separate airstrikes claimed the lives of at least six people in Gaza City and one in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, medical sources reported.

Al-Qanoua’s killing follows the deaths of two other high-ranking Hamas leaders earlier this week: Ismail Barhoum and Salah al-Bardaweel, both members of Hamas' political office.

Barhoum and Bardaweel were part of Hamas’ 20-member political office, the movement’s top decision-making body. Since the war erupted in late 2023, at least 11 of these senior figures have been killed, according to Hamas sources.

The Jerusalem Post described Abdel Latif al-Qanoua as one of Hamas’ most prominent representatives. During the fierce fighting that erupted in October 2023, he largely avoided media appearances. However, following the January 2025 ceasefire, he gave several interviews to Arab news channels.

Last week, Israel ended a two-month ceasefire by resuming heavy airstrikes and ground operations, increasing military pressure on Hamas to release the remaining hostages still in captivity.

Since Israel restarted its large-scale attacks on March 18, at least 830 people — more than half of them women and children — have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Israel and Hamas have blamed each other for breaking the truce, which had provided a brief respite from months of conflict for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, many of whom are now displaced.

Hamas, which still holds 59 of the roughly 250 hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, accused Israel of undermining diplomatic efforts to secure a permanent peace deal.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes, saying he had ordered the attacks after Hamas rejected proposals to extend the ceasefire. On March 26, he reiterated his warning that Israel would seize territory in Gaza if Hamas did not release the remaining hostages.

By Tamilla Hasanova