A senior Hamas leader was killed in a targeted overnight strike on the Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Murad Abu Murad, the head of Hamas’ “aerial activity”, was killed in the strike which targeted a Hamas headquarters, the IDF said. Video purportedly from the strike appears to show a single floor of a highrise building targetted.
Israel said Abu Murad “took a big part in directing terrorists during the massacre” last Saturday which saw at least 1,300 Israelis killed and more than 120 taken hostage.
The attack saw terrorists storm across Israel’s border with Gaza – some airborne with the use of gliders – to perpetrate what has been called the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.
In other attacks overnight, the IDF said it had targetted sites used by Hamas commando forces that participated in the October 7 attack.
Following the attack, Israel implemented a “complete siege” of Gaza cutting off access to food, water and fuel for electricity.
Tel Aviv has carried out thousands of airstrikes leveling entire buildings it says are connected to Hamas. The IDF has given around 1.1 million people in the northern Gaza Strip an order to evacuate south of the Gaza River within 24 hours something the UN has described as impossible.
The IDF has accused Hamas of telling civilians to ignore the evacuation orders, although there have been reports of thousands from Gaza City fleeing south.
The warnings have been seen as a prelude to an anticipated ground offensive which is likely to be carried out in the coming days, or hours, by Israeli forces.
The IDF has massed as many as 300,000 troops along the border with Gaza as well as significant armor and artillery.
In addition, the IDF said it had already begun carrying out “localized raids” in Gaza using troops and armor to hunt Hamas members firing rockets and to search for information on hostages being held by the group.
Israel said at least 120 hostages – some foreign nationals – are being held by Hamas. The US has confirmed Hamas has American hostages while a UK Government minister said it was “highly likely” the group was holding Britions hostage as well.
At least 1,900 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the fighting, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. That number is likely to rise in the coming days.
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