Breaking: Israel said on Saturday that it attempted to kill Hamas's top leader in the Gaza Strip in a pre-dawn airstrike on an apartment in Gaza City, an operation that local officials said killed five people, four of them women.
The Israeli military said the strike aimed to kill Ali al-Amoudi, whom it described as the "right-hand man" of slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar and said was involved in planning the October 7, 2023 attack. The strike hit a residential apartment in the Rimal neighbourhood. Israel said it was reviewing whether al-Amoudi was killed or injured in the operation.
The timing is significant: the pre-dawn strike fell on the anniversary, according to the Jewish calendar, of the October 7, 2023 attack — the deadliest-ever day for Israel, which triggered the devastating Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Casualties and conflicting accounts
An official at Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital told AFP it received five bodies and a number of injured people at dawn. The hospital director said two of the victims were Christians, members of Gaza's small Christian community, whose funerals were later held at the Greek Orthodox church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City.
The Israeli military said steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions, and expressed regret for harm to uninvolved individuals. It said it targeted al-Amoudi after learning he was inside the apartment building, accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
What al-Amoudi represents
Israel killed Sinwar in Gaza in October 2024. Al-Amoudi is considered Hamas's top figure in the Gaza Strip, while the movement's political leader Khalil al-Hayaa lives in Qatar. The strike comes as US President Donald Trump has given Hamas until Sunday evening to accept a 20-point Gaza peace plan, warning of severe consequences otherwise.
The fate of al-Amoudi remains unconfirmed. ResultRaft will update this story as official confirmation comes in.
Sources:
Japan Today (via AFP): Israel targets top Hamas leader in deadly Gaza strike on anniversary
Hindustan Times (via AFP): Israel targets top Hamas leader in deadly Gaza strike on anniversary
The Jerusalem Post: Live updates on Israel, Iran and the Middle East
The Israeli military said the strike aimed to kill Ali al-Amoudi, whom it described as the "right-hand man" of slain Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar and said was involved in planning the October 7, 2023 attack. The strike hit a residential apartment in the Rimal neighbourhood. Israel said it was reviewing whether al-Amoudi was killed or injured in the operation.
The timing is significant: the pre-dawn strike fell on the anniversary, according to the Jewish calendar, of the October 7, 2023 attack — the deadliest-ever day for Israel, which triggered the devastating Israeli offensive in Gaza.
Casualties and conflicting accounts
An official at Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital told AFP it received five bodies and a number of injured people at dawn. The hospital director said two of the victims were Christians, members of Gaza's small Christian community, whose funerals were later held at the Greek Orthodox church of Saint Porphyrius in Gaza City.
The Israeli military said steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions, and expressed regret for harm to uninvolved individuals. It said it targeted al-Amoudi after learning he was inside the apartment building, accusing Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
What al-Amoudi represents
Israel killed Sinwar in Gaza in October 2024. Al-Amoudi is considered Hamas's top figure in the Gaza Strip, while the movement's political leader Khalil al-Hayaa lives in Qatar. The strike comes as US President Donald Trump has given Hamas until Sunday evening to accept a 20-point Gaza peace plan, warning of severe consequences otherwise.
The fate of al-Amoudi remains unconfirmed. ResultRaft will update this story as official confirmation comes in.
Sources:
Japan Today (via AFP): Israel targets top Hamas leader in deadly Gaza strike on anniversary
Hindustan Times (via AFP): Israel targets top Hamas leader in deadly Gaza strike on anniversary
The Jerusalem Post: Live updates on Israel, Iran and the Middle East
