Israeli strike kills senior Hamas leader in northern Gaza
An Israeli air strike killed senior Hamas leader Izz Al Din Al Beik in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.
Radical Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and militant defence minister Israel Katz said the Israeli military had targeted and killed Beik, who they alleged has been involved in planning attacks and recruiting militants.
Hamas issued a statement confirming Beik’s killing in the Israeli strike that medics said hit an apartment building in Gaza City’s Nasr neighbourhood around dawn.
Another person died from their wounds after the attack, health officials said.
Israel has stepped up strikes on the Palestinians in recent weeks.
The Israeli military says it has killed at least 20 Hamas leaders this month.
Hamas has denied Israeli charges that it was trying to carry out attacks or rebuild its arsenal, and accuses Israel of undermining the Gaza deal.
A US-brokered ceasefire agreed last year calls for the eventual reconstruction of the territory.
But little progress has been made as negotiators have failed to agree to Israel withdrawing its troops. Israeli air strikes have continued.
At least 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect.
Palestinian authorities say more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza.