An Israeli air strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital killed a senior Hamas leader and his aide on Sunday evening, a Hamas official confirmed to the BBC.
Ismail Barhoum, head of Hamas’s financial affairs, died in the strike at the main medical facility in Khan Younis. According to the official, Barhoum had been receiving treatment after being injured in an air strike four days earlier.
Israel’s military stated the strike targeted a key Hamas member operating within the hospital compound, following “an extensive intelligence-gathering process.” They claimed “precise munitions” were used to minimize collateral damage.
The Hamas-run health ministry reported that “many others,” including medical staff, were wounded. A significant section of the hospital was destroyed, prompting an evacuation. Footage verified by the BBC showed people attempting to extinguish flames in the aftermath.
Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals as cover for weapons storage and command centers, an allegation Hamas denies.
In a separate incident, another Hamas leader, Salah al-Bardaweel, was killed by an Israeli air strike in Khan Younis on Sunday.
Earlier that day, at least 30 people were reported killed in Khan Younis and Rafah, prior to the hospital attack, the health ministry said.
Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire. Hundreds have died in strikes since the offensive restarted. Israel attributed the renewed hostilities to Hamas rejecting a U.S.-backed truce extension proposal, while Hamas accused Israel of abandoning the original January agreement.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza to dismantle Hamas, which has killed over 50,000 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Let me know if you’d like to make any more changes or refine this further!