Israel confirmed that it killed number 2 of the armed wing of Hamas

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Israeli army confirms the elimination of Hamas military wing leader Marwan Issa

The Israeli army has confirmed the successful elimination of Marwan Issa, the deputy head of Hamas’s military wing and third in the hierarchy within the terrorist group. Issa was targeted in a bombing in Gaza, which also resulted in the death of another senior Hamas member, Commander Ghazi Abu Tamaa.

Issa, who was described as one of the organizers of the October 7 massacre in southern Israel, was killed in a precise bombing carried out by the Israeli aeronautical force based on intelligence from the army and the Shin Bet, the Israeli internal intelligence service.

The United States National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, had previously announced the information regarding Issa’s death on March 18. The Israeli military had claimed that Issa was the target of an airstrike on an underground complex in the central Gaza Strip on March 11.

Since launching its offensive in response to the October 7 attacks, the Israeli army has reported the deaths of more than 32,300 Palestinians in Gaza, as well as over 420 fatalities due to actions by security forces and Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Additionally, an association of hostage families revealed the death of Uriel Baruch, an Israeli who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7. Baruch’s body is reportedly being held in Palestinian territory, according to the association. Baruch, a father of two, was kidnapped during the Nova music festival, where 364 people were massacred by Islamist commandos from Gaza.

The Palestinian Islamist movement had kidnapped more than 250 hostages during the October 7 attack, with some being exchanged for Palestinian prisoners during a truce in November. However, around 130 people are still believed to be kidnapped, with 34 confirmed deaths according to Israeli authorities.

The events surrounding the elimination of Marwan Issa and the continuing tensions between Israel and Hamas serve as a reminder of the ongoing conflict in the region. (With information from AFP and EP)