The Israeli military said it targeted a senior official of the Islamist terrorist organisation Hamas in Gaza City on Saturday.
Israeli media reported that the target was Abu Obeida, the long-time spokesman of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades. He is known for appearing masked in public and video messages.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said prior to the strike on the “key Hamas terrorist,” steps were taken to “mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.”
However, the territory’s civil defence agency, controlled by Hamas, reported at least seven deaths in an attack in the west of Gaza City.
A residential building in the Rimal district, once considered a wealthy area, was reportedly attacked, with more people suspected to be under the rubble.
Neither report could be independently verified.
Israel is set to go ahead with its offensive in Gaza City despite fears of a humanitarian catastrophe, with its forces being seen on the outskirts of the city on Friday.
Aid organizations have warned that the city’s population cannot be evacuated safely to the south of the devastated territory.
