|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza – An Israeli air strike on the southern city of Khan Younis in Gaza has killed senior Hamas political leader Salah al-Bardaweel, local sources reported on Sunday.
The strike also claimed the life of his wife, as Israel ramped up its military offensive amid renewed hostilities in the region.
Eyewitnesses and local officials confirmed that the air strike targeted a residential area, reducing buildings to rubble. Bardaweel, widely regarded as Hamas’s highest-ranking political leader in Gaza, was a key figure in the organization’s political wing.
His death marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict, which has seen escalating violence since the breakdown of a temporary ceasefire.
Israel has not officially commented on the strike or the death of Bardaweel. However, the renewed military campaign follows Israel’s claims that Hamas rejected a recent U.S.-brokered proposal to extend the truce.
The ceasefire, which lasted nearly two months, was seen as a temporary halt to hostilities that had raged since the war erupted.
The health ministry in Gaza, which is run by Hamas, reported that the total death toll in the enclave since the war began has surpassed 50,000.
On Sunday alone, at least 30 people were killed in air strikes on Khan Younis and Rafah, two cities in southern Gaza that have been heavily targeted in recent days.
Israel resumed its heavy bombardment of Gaza earlier this week, accusing Hamas of refusing diplomatic efforts to prolong the ceasefire.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has stated that military operations will continue until Hamas is significantly weakened or eliminated.
Israeli military officials have maintained that strikes are focused on Hamas targets, but civilians continue to bear the brunt of the devastation.
Footage from Khan Younis showed rescue workers and civilians searching through debris for survivors. Medics described the situation as dire, with hospitals already overwhelmed by casualties from previous attacks.
“The destruction is unimaginable. We are running out of medical supplies, and the number of wounded is only increasing,” said a doctor at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
The international community has expressed growing concern over the humanitarian impact of the conflict.
The United Nations has repeatedly called for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent further civilian casualties. However, peace efforts remain stalled as both sides continue to exchange blame.
Meanwhile, protests erupted in several cities across the Middle East following news of Bardaweel’s killing. Hamas officials vowed retaliation, with a spokesman stating that “Israel will pay the price for its crimes against our leaders and people.”
The situation in Gaza remains highly volatile, with no clear path toward de-escalation. As the death toll climbs, diplomatic efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire face mounting challenges. With heavy strikes continuing and civilian suffering deepening, the conflict appears far from resolution.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members