Rawhi Mushtaha, Hamas Govt Chief In Gaza, 'Eliminated' In Israeli Airstrikes

The Israeli military stated on Thursday that it had "eliminated" Rawhi Mushtaha, the head of the Hamas government in Gaza, along with two senior security officials, in airstrikes conducted three months earlier.

According to the military's statement, the strike targeted an underground facility in northern Gaza used as a command and control centre.

Mushtaha, along with commanders Sameh al-Siraj and Sami Oudeh, were reportedly hiding there when the strike took place.

"Mushtaha was one of Hamas' most senior operatives and had a direct impact on decisions relating to Hamas' force deployment," the military said. Sameh al-Siraj was responsible for Hamas's political bureau's security portfolio.

Mushtaha was identified as a close ally of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas's top leader, who is believed to have played a key role in planning the October 7 attack on Israel that triggered the current conflict. Sinwar is reportedly alive and hiding in Gaza.

There was no immediate response from Hamas.

Separately, Hamas media and medics reported that Israel had killed Abdel-Aziz Salha, a West Bank Hamas militant, earlier on Thursday in an airstrike.

Salha, who was imprisoned for life for his involvement in the 2000 lynching of two Israeli reservists in Ramallah, had been released in a 2011 prisoner exchange.

Medics said he was killed in a strike on a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians inside Al-Aklouk School in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza.

The 2000 incident involved a mob in Ramallah attacking the two Israeli reservists, who were taken to a police station after being captured at a Palestinian checkpoint.

The mob choked and beat the soldiers to death.