A senior Hamas commander was killed in an air strike in Gaza on Saturday, the Israeli military has confirmed. Khan Younis Brigade commander Rafa Salama was targeted in the attack, which the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said significantly impeded Hamas’ military capabilities.
Salama was described as one of the “masterminds” behind the 7 October attack and a close associate of Mohammed Deif, the top commander of Hamas’s military wing. The IDF also stated that Deif was targeted in the strike, but it is not known if he was killed.
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reported that the Israeli strike on a camp for displaced people in Khan Younis resulted in the deaths of at least 90 Palestinians and injured 289 others. The facility where the injured were taken is said to be overwhelmed with casualties, with doctors struggling to cope with the large number of patients.
Dr. Mohammed Abu Rayya, who is treating the injured at a hospital, described the scene as “hell”, noting that many of the casualties were civilians, including women and children. A Hamas official called the attack a “grave escalation” and accused Israel of not being interested in reaching a ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire negotiations, which were being held in Qatar and Egypt, ended without success on Friday. The situation in Gaza remains tense as both sides continue to exchange fire and casualties continue to rise.
