Israeli Airstrike Targets Senior Hamas Official in Khan Younis
On Friday, the Israeli military announced that it had killed senior Hamas official Izz al-Din Kassab in an airstrike in Khan Younis. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) described Kassab as one of the last high-ranking members of Hamas involved in coordinating activities with other groups in the Gaza Strip.
While Hamas sources confirmed that Kassab was a local official, they stated he was not part of the group’s decision-making political office. According to the IDF, Kassab was responsible for managing strategic and military relations between Hamas and other factions. They also claimed he had the authority to initiate terrorist attacks against Israel.
The airstrike also resulted in the death of Kassab’s assistant, Ayman Ayesh, with the IDF releasing footage of the operation.
In a separate development, Mossad Chief David Barnea addressed the families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He clarified that recent reports claiming Hamas had rejected a proposed ceasefire mediated by Egypt were incorrect. The proposal allegedly included a 12-day truce, with the first 48 hours designated for Hamas to prepare for the release of four hostages in exchange for approximately 100 Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel.
Hamas is expected to formally respond to the ceasefire offer next week. This ongoing conflict began on October 7, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, escalating hostilities in Gaza since then.
