An armoured personnel provider (APC) maneuvers close to the Israel-Gaza border, amid the continuing battle between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Israel, March 10, 2024. REUTERS
JERUSALEM/CAIRO — Israel was checking on Monday whether or not it had killed Hamas’s deputy navy chief in an airstrike in Gaza, the Israeli Protection Forces (IDF) stated, as prospects pale for a ceasefire to coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
If his demise is confirmed, Marwan Issa would be the highest-ranking official from the Islamist militant motion killed by Israel in 5 months of conflict that has pulverized the coastal enclave and killed tens of 1000’s of Palestinians.
Issa, often known as the ‘Shadow Man’ for his means to remain out of sight, was considered one of three high Hamas leaders who deliberate the Oct. 7 assault on Israel that triggered the conflict and who’re believed to have been directing Hamas’s navy operations since then.
READ: Ramadan brings no reduction as Israel-Hamas conflict rages in Gaza
Talking at a briefing with reporters, IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated Israel had bombed the Al-Nusseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday night time following intelligence in regards to the location of Issa, second-in-command of Hamas’s navy wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades.
Two Hamas leaders — Issa and one other commander answerable for Hamas weapons in Gaza — used the underground compound that Israeli jets struck in a joint operation with Israel’s Shin Wager safety service, Hagari stated.
“Beside them within the tunnel there have been different terrorists,” he stated however added that it was nonetheless not clear whether or not Issa had been killed.
A Palestinian supply stated the Israelis had hit a spot the place they thought Issa was hiding, however might give no particulars of his destiny.
“There nonetheless aren’t indications with certainty,” Chili Tropper, an Israeli cupboard minister, advised Israel’s Channel 13 tv on Monday.
READ: Hamas official says it has obtained new proposal for three-stage truce
“If certainly Marwan Issa was eradicated, who in some ways is Hamas’ navy chief of workers, it’s a terrific achievement by the IDF and Shin Wager, he stated.
Fighters from Hamas, which administers Gaza, killed 1,200 individuals within the Oct. 7 assault and took 253 hostages, in response to Israeli tallies, an assault that sparked one of many bloodiest wars within the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian battle.
Israel’s retaliatory navy marketing campaign on the densely populated enclave has killed greater than 31,000 Palestinians, in response to Gaza authorities, whereas infrastructure has been obliterated and tons of of 1000’s at the moment are near famine.
Issa on Israel’s ‘most needed’ listing
Issa is on Israel’s “most needed” listing, along with Mohammed Deif, commander of the al-Qassam Brigades, and Hamas’s Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar.
Issa’s demise, if confirmed, might additionally complicate efforts to safe a ceasefire and the discharge of hostages, though Israel says talks are persevering with by Egyptian and Qatari mediators.
Hamas blames Israel for refusing to provide ensures to finish the conflict and withdraw troops. Israel needs a short lived truce to safe the discharge of hostages in return for letting some Palestinians prisoners go free, however has stated it is not going to cease its conflict till it has defeated Hamas.
Negotiators had needed a halt in hostilities for Ramadan, which started on Monday, however an Israeli airstrike on a home in Gaza Metropolis killed 16 individuals and wounded a number of others, Palestinian well being officers stated.
Israel additionally killed two Palestinians in an airstrike on a home within the southern metropolis of Khan Younis as residents have been breaking the primary day of the Ramadan quick, Gaza well being officers stated.
The IDF didn’t instantly touch upon these incidents. Nevertheless it stated its forces had killed about 15 militants in shut fight and airstrikes in central Gaza and that commandos had focused websites believed for use by Hamas militants in Khan Younis.
Professional-Palestinian teams elsewhere continued to make their presence felt. Lebanon’s Hezbollah stated it had launched a number of drones at an outpost within the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Monday, and two different incidents have been reported in Pink Sea waters the place Yemen’s Houthis have been attacking ships.
At the least one civilian has been killed and several other others injured after Israel launched 4 strikes on jap Lebanon’s metropolis of Baalbek on Monday, two safety sources and the Baalbek governor, Bashir Khader, advised Reuters.
Israeli strikes had been principally restricted to the southern border area of Lebanon, though they’ve edged additional north in current weeks, a broadening of Israel’s marketing campaign, a Lebanese safety supply advised Reuters.
Guterres appeals for truce, hostage launch, assist
The battle has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million individuals, with many cramped into makeshift tents with little in the way in which of meals or primary medical provides within the southern metropolis of Rafah.
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres appealed for a truce in Gaza, the discharge of hostages and the removing of obstacles to life-saving assist. He stated a threatened Israeli assault on Rafah might put the individuals of Gaza in “a good deeper circle of hell.”
The U.N. estimates 1 / 4 of the inhabitants are prone to hunger, and is barely scratching the floor of each day wants. Assist companies at the moment are specializing in delivering assist by sea and thru air drops. The U.N. has beforehand accused Israel of blocking assist to Gaza.
Jordanian state media stated there had been seven humanitarian air drops on Monday, with Jordan, the U.S., Egypt, France and Belgium collaborating. Morocco was additionally scheduled to affix the hassle, Israeli media reported.
The U.S. navy stated it had parachuted greater than 27,600 meals and 25,900 bottles of water into northern Gaza.
A authorities supply in Cyprus stated a vessel carrying 200 tonnes of assist was scheduled to set sail on Monday. The U.S. navy stated its vessel, the Normal Frank S. Besson, was additionally en route to offer humanitarian reduction to Gaza by sea.
Senior Hamas official Basem Naim welcomed the help hall however urged the U.S. to work to finish the conflict.