An Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killed Hamas political leader Salah al-Bardaweel on Sunday, Hamas officials reported, as residents described an escalation in Israel’s military offensive that began on Tuesday.
According to pro-Hamas media, the strike killed Bardaweel, a member of Hamas’ political office, along with his wife. Israeli officials have not yet commented on the attack.
Taher Al-Nono, media advisor to the Hamas leadership, confirmed Bardaweel’s death in a Facebook post, mourning his loss.
Following two months of relative calm, Gaza residents are once again fleeing as Israel has intensified its air and ground operations against Hamas, effectively abandoning a ceasefire.
Explosions rocked northern, central, and southern Gaza early Sunday as Israeli warplanes targeted multiple locations, which witnesses described as an escalation of the ongoing assault.
Hamas accused Israel of assassinating Bardaweel, stating that he and his wife were praying inside a tent shelter in Khan Younis when an Israeli missile struck.
“The blood of our martyrs, including that of Salah al-Bardaweel and his wife, will continue to fuel the battle for liberation and independence. The enemy will not break our resolve,” Hamas declared in a statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated that the primary goal of the war is to dismantle Hamas as both a military force and governing entity. He stated that the latest offensive aims to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages.
On Tuesday, Israeli strikes also killed Hamas’ de facto government leader Essam Addalees, internal security chief Mahmoud Abu Watfa, and several other officials.
According to Palestinian health officials, at least 400 people, more than half of them women and children, were killed on Tuesday.
Palestinian medics reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafah, southern Gaza, injuring multiple individuals.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the terms of the January ceasefire agreement by refusing to enter negotiations for a permanent end to the war and a withdrawal of Israeli troops. Despite this, Hamas stated that it remains open to negotiations and is reviewing mediator Witkoff’s “bridging” proposals.
The renewed violence and military operations have sparked calls for a ceasefire from Arab and European nations. Britain, France, and Germany released a joint statement urging Israel to restore access for humanitarian aid.
Israel has blocked goods from entering Gaza, while Israeli official Falk accused Hamas of diverting aid for its own use—a claim Hamas has previously denied.
The war began after Hamas launched an attack on Israeli communities near Gaza on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
Since then, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 49,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities, leaving much of Gaza in ruins and hundreds of thousands displaced in makeshift shelters.
