Israel says two senior Hamas figures killed in Gaza airstrikes

JERUSALEM — Israel's military said two senior Hamas figures were killed in separate airstrikes in the northern and southern Gaza Strip. According to the army, the first strike took place two days ago in the north and killed Ahmed Yahya Ibrahim al-Betash, whom it described as one of Hamas's elite cell commanders. The army said al-Betash had been involved in planning operations against Israeli forces during the war. The second strike was carried out on Sunday in the south and killed Hamouda Abu Dakka, identified by the military as a member of Hamas's military intelligence arm. The army said Abu Dakka gathered intelligence on Israeli forces and helped direct operations based on that information. The Israeli military said its forces deployed in Gaza under existing arrangements would continue operations to counter any immediate threats. No further details on the strikes were immediately available.