Israeli army says it killed senior Hamas military wing official in central Gaza

The Israeli military said it killed a senior official of Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, in a strike in the Deir al-Balah area in central Gaza Strip. According to the army, the official posed "an immediate threat" and the strike was carried out to prevent planned attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians. The Israeli military said the targeted official had been hiding near the Martyrs of al-Aqsa Hospital. Israel has accused Hamas of using health facilities and humanitarian infrastructure to conceal weapons and conduct military activity; Hamas has previously denied the claim. The army said it used "precision munitions" and aerial surveillance before the strike to reduce the risk of civilian harm. The Israeli military did not disclose the name of the official killed. Hamas had not issued a detailed public response to the strike at the time of reporting.