Israeli strike kills Hamas political leader Salah al-Bardaweel in Gaza
The attack also killed 30, including Bardaweel’s wife who was praying with him in their tent shelter in Khan Younis
An Israeli air strike in southern Gaza killed a Hamas political leader, Salah al-Bardaweel, on Sunday, the militant group said, as Palestinian officials put the death toll from nearly 18 months of conflict at over 50,000.
After two months of relative calm in the war, Gazans have again been fleeing for their lives after Israel effectively abandoned a ceasefire, launching a new all-out air and ground campaign on Tuesday against Hamas.
Explosions echoed throughout the north, central and southern Gaza early on Sunday, as Israeli planes hit several targets in those areas in what witnesses said was an escalation of the attacks that began earlier in the week.
At least 30 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli strikes on Rafah and Khan Younis so far on Sunday, health authorities said. Those killed included three municipal employees, doctors said.
Hamas said the air strike on Khan Younis killed Bardaweel and his wife. Israeli officials had no immediate comment.
Bardaweel was a member of the Hamas decision-making body, the political office, and had held posts such as heading the Hamas delegation for indirect truce talks with Israel in 2009 and led the group’s media office in 2005.