Tel Aviv: The Israeli military said on Friday that it killed senior Hamas official Izz al-Din Kassab, describing him as one of the last senior members of Hamas responsible for coordinating with other groups in the Gaza Strip, in an airstrike in Khan Yunis.
Hamas sources told Reuters that Kassab was an official in a local group in Gaza, but he was not a member of its political decision-making bureau.
According to the Israeli army, Kassab took responsibility for coordination between Hamas and other factions, and managing strategic and military relations in Gaza. The IDF statement also claimed that Katsav had the authority to initiate terrorist attacks against Israel.
The Israeli army confirmed that the airstrike also killed Katsab’s assistant, Ayman Ayesh, and published footage of the operation.
Separately, Mossad chief David Barnea addressed the families of hostages being held in Gaza, noting that recent reports of Hamas’ rejection of the proposed Egyptian ceasefire are inaccurate. The proposal reportedly proposes a 12-day truce, with an initial 48 hours allowed for Hamas to prepare for the release of four hostages in exchange for the release of about 100 Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel.
Hamas is expected to formally respond to the ceasefire offer next week. The ongoing conflict erupted on October 7, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, which has since led to an escalation of hostilities in Gaza.