Israel launched an attack on an underground facility used by Marwan Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing, as confirmed by an Israeli military spokesperson on Monday. The spokesperson mentioned that the results of the strike were still being analyzed.
Hamas, known for not disclosing much information about its top military leaders during conflicts, did not immediately respond to the incident.
Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli spokesperson, stressed that the attack by Israeli warplanes targeted a location frequented by Mr. Issa and another high-ranking Hamas military official responsible for the group’s weapons.
If Mr. Issa was indeed killed in the strike, he would be the most senior Hamas commander to have been eliminated since the conflict began. This would be seen as a significant achievement for Israel, which has aimed to dismantle the Hamas leadership in Gaza, despite the group’s ability to quickly replace key figures in the past.
Among the few high-ranking Hamas officials confirmed dead since the start of the conflict is Saleh al-Arouri, a founding member of the group’s armed wing allegedly killed in an Israeli attack in Lebanon on Jan. 2. Despite Israel’s ongoing military operations targeting Hamas, key figures like Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif remain at large.
Admiral Hagari revealed that the strike took place in Nuseirat, central Gaza, during the night between Saturday and Sunday. Reports suggest that Israel carried out numerous strikes in the area that night, as reported by Arabic news outlets.
According to Admiral Hagari, Mr. Issa played a role in planning the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7 and was considered part of the core leadership of terror in Gaza, alongside Mr. Sinwar and Mr. Deif.
