Jerusalem, Oct 17 (EFE).- The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it had killed Hamas leader Osama Mazini, head of the Shura Council, the highest political decision-making body of the Palestinian Islamist group, in an airstrike in Gaza.
Palestinians search for bodies and survivors in the rubble of a residential building leveled in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Younis refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip, on 16 October 2023. EFE-EPA/HAITHAM IMAD
In a joint statement with the Israel security agency, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Mazini was responsible for Hamas prisoners and “directed terrorist activities against Israel.”
Palestinians with dual nationalities wait to cross the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, southern Gaza Strip, 16 October 2023. EFE-EPA/HAITHAM IMAD
The IDF published a video showing the moment it bombed the building in the Gaza Strip where Mazini was supposedly staying.
In a separate statement, the IDF said that it had hit several targets of Hamas and of other organizations.
It added that Hamas’ headquarters had been bombed, among other places, and that a military operative had been killed during the attack.
A bank used by Hamas in Gaza to finance its activities was also attacked, the Israeli military said.
Israel has been bombing Gaza for 11 days after a surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, which left more than 1,400 dead.
As of Monday, over 2,808 Palestinians had died in the strikes on the Gaza Strip.
At least 71 people died in the last few hours and dozens were injured by Israeli strikes in Rafah and Khan Younis in the Gaza Strip, controlled by Hamas, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. EFE
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