Israeli airstrike kills Hamas political leader in southern Gaza

Israel resumed large-scale attacks on Gaza on Tuesday, blaming Hamas and scrapping a ceasefire that had been in place since 19 January. This marked the end of nearly two months of relative calm, according to Reuters.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that the goal of the war is to “destroy Hamas as a military and governing entity.” He also stated that the latest attacks aim to pressure the group into releasing the remaining hostages.

On Tuesday, Israeli strikes also killed senior Hamas officials, including Essam Addalees, the head of Hamas’ de facto government, and Mahmoud Abu Watfa, the group’s internal security chief.

According to Palestinian health officials, at least 400 people were killed on Tuesday, with more than half of them being women and children.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza was sparked by Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli reports. In response, Israel launched a campaign that has resulted in significant casualties and destruction.

Palestinian health authorities report over 49,000 Palestinian fatalities, while hundreds of thousands of people are now living in tents and makeshift shelters due to the devastation of the coastal enclave.

(with inputs from Reuters)

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