According to White House official Jake Sullivan, Marwan Issa, a Hamas leader, was killed in an Israeli air strike.
Mr. Issa’s death marks a significant loss for Hamas, as he held the position of deputy military commander. This is the highest-ranking casualty for the group since the war started on 7 October.
The Palestinian group, which controls Gaza, has yet to provide an official statement regarding the reports of his death.
Reports from Israeli media indicate that Mr. Issa was killed in an attack on a tunnel complex beneath the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza last week.
The deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, was highly sought after by Israeli authorities. The European Union, which designated the Hamas leader as a terrorist, connected him directly to the 7 October attack orchestrated by the group, resulting in the loss of around 1,200 lives.
He was imprisoned by Israel for five years during the first Palestinian intifada, or uprising, and held by the Palestinian Authority in 1997 until the beginning of the second intifada in 2000.
Several senior leaders of Hamas have been eliminated by the Israeli military since 7 October. A political leader from Hamas, Saleh al-Arouri, passed away due to an explosion in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh. Many believe that Israel is responsible for that attack.
According to Mr. Sullivan, the national security adviser at the White House, it is believed that other Hamas leaders are currently in hiding, possibly within the extensive tunnel network in Gaza.
He promised that the United States would support Israel in its ongoing efforts to apprehend high-ranking members of Hamas, stating: “They will also face justice.”
However, it was highlighted that US President Joe Biden recently conveyed his deep concern regarding the increasing number of civilian casualties in Gaza during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – their first discussion in a month.
The US president reaffirmed his support for Israel and its actions against Hamas, as stated by Mr. Sullivan. However, he cautioned against a potential military invasion of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that has become a refuge for approximately one million war-displaced individuals.
According to the US national security adviser, the invasion could have devastating consequences, including an increase in civilian casualties, exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis, further chaos in Gaza, and increased international isolation for Israel.
Over 31,000 Palestinian civilians have lost their lives since the conflict began on 7 October, as reported by the health ministry in Gaza led by Hamas. The death toll has sparked widespread international criticism and strained Israel’s relationships with its allies.
During the call, Mr. Sullivan mentioned that President Biden urged Mr. Netanyahu to establish a clear and strategic end game in Gaza.
“The president reiterated to the prime minister today our shared objective of defeating Hamas. However, we believe that a well-thought-out and lasting strategy is necessary to achieve this goal,” he stated.
Mr Biden successfully convinced the Israeli leader to send a delegation of high-ranking officials from various agencies to Washington in the near future. The purpose of the meeting is to address US concerns regarding the potential invasion of Rafah.
According to Mr. Sullivan, it is anticipated that Israel will postpone its attack until the meeting takes place.
Mr Netanyahu confirmed the call on X, formerly Twitter, and mentioned that they had discussed the latest developments in the war, along with Israel’s goals in the conflict.
The Israeli prime minister stated that their goals are to eliminate Hamas, secure the release of all hostages, and prevent Gaza from posing a threat to Israel. They also emphasized the importance of providing humanitarian aid to help achieve these objectives.
Senior Democrats in the US are increasingly expressing their disapproval of Mr Netanyahu.
Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, recently called for new elections in Israel. He expressed concerns that Mr. Netanyahu’s focus on his “political survival” may be overshadowing the needs of the country.
Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party responded by asserting that Israel is not a “banana republic” and that the prime minister’s policies enjoy strong support from a significant majority.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on Friday, Mr. Biden acknowledged that he was aware of Mr. Schumer’s upcoming remarks. The president mentioned that the Senate leader had expressed significant concern, which resonated with not only him, but also with many Americans.
In other developments, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to make his sixth trip to the Middle East this week, marking his latest visit to the region since the conflict in Gaza began.
He plans to convene meetings in Saudi Arabia and Egypt to address global initiatives aimed at achieving a ceasefire agreement that ensures the liberation of all remaining hostages.
Israeli negotiators are set to start discussions in Qatar on Tuesday in a renewed effort to reach a truce agreement.
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