Senior Hamas Official Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Southern Gaza

Gaza Strip – A senior Hamas official, Salah al-Bardawil, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian militant group confirmed on Sunday.

Hamas announced the death of al-Bardawil, a prominent member of its politburo, in a statement on its Telegram channel. The group claimed that both al-Bardawil and his wife were killed in what it described as a “treacherous Zionist assassination” while they were inside a tent in al-Mawasi, an area designated as a humanitarian zone.

The strike comes amid renewed hostilities following the collapse of a fragile ceasefire. Israel resumed its bombing campaign early Tuesday before launching another ground offensive, leading to significant casualties. Hundreds of Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed in the recent escalation.

Efforts by mediators to extend the ceasefire—initially implemented in mid-January—failed, prolonging the conflict that began after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with humanitarian conditions deteriorating as airstrikes and ground operations continue.