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In a targeted airstrike on January 1, 2025, in the southern Gaza Strip, Hamas’s police chief, Mahmoud Salah, and his aide, Hussam Shahwan, were killed. Israeli media reported the deaths, citing Palestinian sources.
The strike took place in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, a region that has witnessed ongoing Israeli military operations against Hamas leaders.
According to Israel’s public broadcaster KAN, Shahwan, who served as the head of the Hamas police’s investigative unit in the past, was one of the main figures targeted.
The attack resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, with at least 15 others wounded, according to local medical sources in Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strike as part of a broader strategy aimed at dismantling Hamas’s security apparatus.
In a statement, the IDF described Salah and Shahwan as key figures in Hamas’s police force, with both playing significant roles in enforcing the group’s rule in Gaza.
This operation follows a similar strike earlier in December 2024 that targeted and killed Osama Ghanim, a senior member of Hamas’s internal security apparatus.
The IDF stated that Ghanim was responsible for overseeing the organization’s brutal methods of suppressing opposition within Gaza, including violent interrogations and human rights abuses.
Ghanim was also implicated in the persecution of LGBTQ+ individuals and dissidents in the region.
In recent weeks, Israel has intensified its military campaign in Gaza, focusing on eliminating high-ranking Hamas officials involved in maintaining control over Gaza’s internal security and enforcing the group’s radical ideologies.
The IDF’s strategy has been to target Hamas leadership to destabilize their operations and prevent further violence. The recent airstrikes in Khan Yunis mark a significant escalation in the conflict, as Israel seeks to strike at the heart of Hamas’s military and political infrastructure.
Local sources reported widespread damage in the area, with the airstrikes causing a significant amount of destruction. Smoke was seen rising from the site of the attack, with images showing the aftermath of the explosion and emergency response teams working to assist the wounded.
The latest round of violence adds to the growing casualties in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has seen numerous airstrikes, rocket exchanges, and military engagements between the IDF and Hamas forces.
International calls for a ceasefire have continued, but both sides have remained entrenched in their positions, with Israel emphasizing its right to defend itself against Hamas’s violent tactics and territorial control.
As of now, tensions remain high, and the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with both civilian and military casualties mounting amid the ongoing hostilities.