Israel-Gaza war: Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri was a key player until death in Beirut strike
- Saleh al-Arouri would be the most senior Hamas leader killed since the October 7 attacks on Israel
- With Hamas’ Gaza leaders in deep hiding, Arouri was closely involved in negotiations around the war
“I am waiting for martyrdom and think that I lived too long,” he said in August, as he urged Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank to take up arms amid a surge of violence.
His killing comes at a defining moment for the organisation, as Israel attempts to eradicate it in retaliation for the October 7 attack, when Hamas fighters rampaged across the border, killing 1,200 people and seizing 240 hostages.
Israel has long accused him of lethal attacks on its citizens, but a Hamas official said he was also “at the heart of negotiations” over the outcome of the Gaza war and the release of hostages conducted by Qatar and Egypt.
“Whoever did this did a surgical strike against the Hamas leadership,” said Mark Regev, a senior adviser to Israel’s prime minister. Israel does not typically confirm or deny responsibility for such attacks.
