![]() In January, Hamas confirmed its deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri had died in a Lebanon blast, saying he was targeted in an Israeli drone strike. He added Israeli intelligence agency Mossad would hunt down Hamas' leadership anywhere in the world. "They are living on borrowed time," Mr Gallant told reporters in early December, referring to the top leaders. Since October 7, media reports say Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has a poster hanging on a wall in his office in Tel Aviv, with the mugshots of Hamas' commanders arranged in a pyramid.Īccording to Reuters, at the bottom are Hamas' junior field commanders.Īt the top is its high command, including Mr Issa, Deif and Hamas' Gaza leader, Yahya Sinwar. ![]() Who else is on Israel's most-wanted list? The Times of Israel reports Hebrew media says Hamas is also trying to confirm Mr Issa's death. Hamas did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Israeli allegations, the agency adds. What has Hamas said?Ī Palestinian source told Reuters Israel hit a place where they thought Mr Issa was hiding, but could give no details of his fate. The IDF added its forces killed about 15 militants in close combat and air strikes in central Gaza with commandos also targeting sites believed to be used by Hamas militants in Khan Younis on Monday, according to Reuters. There have been no reports of other casualties from the air strike so far. "If indeed Marwan Issa was eliminated, who in many ways is Hamas' military chief of staff, it's a great achievement by the IDF and Shin Bet, he said. "There still aren't indications with certainty," Israeli cabinet minister Chili Tropper told Israel's Channel 13 television on Monday local time. IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari says Israel bombed the Al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday night following intelligence about the location of Mr Issa. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) believe Mr Issa has been directing Hamas' military operations since October 7. The ensuing war has so far killed more than 31,000 Palestinians and injured nearly 73,000, according to Gaza authorities, as well as obliterating infrastructure and causing widespread hunger. Israel says Mr Issa is one of the three top Hamas leaders who planned the October 7 attack on southern Israel, which saw 1,200 people killed and 253 Israelis taken hostages. Mr Issa's military wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigade, has also been listed as a terrorist organisation by Australia since 2003, but Issa has not been singled out. He was added to the European Union's terrorism list in December last year. In addition to being on Israel's "most-wanted" list, Mr Issa was also classified as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the United States in 2019. "He was very meticulous and careful analyst, that's my impression of him," Mr Conrad told Al Jazeera television, according to Reuters.
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