An Israeli airstrike has killed three sons of Hamas’s prime political chief in an assault on high-profile targets in Gaza.
Hamas stated 4 of Ismail Haniyeh’s grandchildren had been additionally killed within the strike.
The Israeli army stated two of his sons, Mohammed and Hazem, had been Hamas army operatives, whereas the third, Amir, was a cell commander.
They’re among the many highest-profile targets to be killed within the warfare to date.
Center East newest: Netanyahu’s method in Gaza ‘a mistake’, Biden says
The killings threaten to undermine internationally mediated ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas.
Haniyeh accused Israel of appearing in “the spirit of revenge and homicide” and stated Hamas wouldn’t cave to stress following the strike on his household.
“The enemy believes that by focusing on the households of the leaders, it would push them to surrender the calls for of our folks,” he instructed Al Jazeera TV.
“Anybody who believes that focusing on my sons will push Hamas to alter its place is delusional.”
Footage confirmed the second he acquired the information whereas visiting wounded Palestinians at a hospital in Qatar, the place he lives in exile.
He nods, appears to be like down on the floor, and says: “God relaxation their souls.”
Hamas stated Haniyeh’s sons had been killed within the Shati refugee camp in Gaza Metropolis, the place Haniyeh is initially from.
It additionally stated three of his granddaughters and a grandson had been killed, however didn’t disclose their ages.
Learn extra:Israel withdraws nearly all troops from southern GazaAnalysis: Key factor in path to peace nonetheless missingRoyal Navy ship to be deployed in Gaza assist effort
Hamas defeated, Israeli Struggle Cupboard minister claims
It comes after Israeli Struggle Cupboard minister Benny Gantz claimed Hamas had been defeated militarily, although he added Israel will combat the group for years to return.
“From a army perspective, Hamas is defeated. Its fighters are eradicated or in hiding” and its capabilities “crippled”, Mr Gantz stated.
However he added: “Combating towards Hamas will take time. Boys who at the moment are in center college will nonetheless combat within the Gaza Strip.”
Mr Gantz reiterated the Israeli authorities’s dedication to invade the southern metropolis of Rafah – the place greater than half the territory’s 2.3 million folks have fled – a day after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the assault would go forward and declared: “There’s a date.”
Gazans ‘have fun’ Eid regardless of warfare
A despondent Eid al-Fitr
The strike on Haniyeh’s kids got here as Palestinians marked a despondent Eid al-Fitr vacation, which ends the Ramadan fasting month, by visiting the graves of their family members killed within the warfare.
Greater than 33,400 Palestinians have been killed within the preventing, in keeping with Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants however says a lot of the useless are girls and youngsters.
The warfare erupted after Hamas killed 1,200 folks in southern Israel in a cross-border rampage on 7 October.
Israel says it has killed some 12,000 militants, with out offering proof, and misplaced greater than 600 troopers.
