ISRAEL claims to have killed Hamas Deputy Military Commander Marwan Issa killed in an attack earlier this month. However, every vacant position in Hamas will be filled immediately so this news will not have a big impact.
“We have checked all intelligence information,” said Israeli Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari in a televised statement, Tuesday (26/3).
Before Hagari’s announcement, the United States revealed that Issa had been killed in an Israeli attack. The Israeli military previously said it had targeted Issa in an airstrike on an underground complex in central Gaza on March 9-10.
Issa is a deputy to Mohammed Deif, the longtime leader of Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades. Meanwhile, the main leader of Hamas, Yahya Sinwar, is believed to be still alive and hiding in Gaza.
Israel says it has killed more than 13,000 Hamas fighters since the start of the war, but has not provided any evidence to support the claim.
Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, said Israeli officials had said they would kill all Hamas leaders.
Also read: Hamas Shows Two Prisoners Killed by Israeli Attacks
“It won’t just happen in Gaza. “This will happen all over the world and countries like Lebanon, Turkey and Qatar too,” said Salhut.
Israel’s claim came a day after the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Amid increasing calls for Israel to stop its attacks that have been going on for almost six months. Palestinian health officials announced the Israeli invasion had killed more than 32,000 people.
More than 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have become internally displaced, while Israel’s tight restrictions on food, water and other aid supplies have pushed the territory to the brink of famine.
Also read: Air attacks continue, Palestinian casualties increase
If Israel’s claims are true, Issa would be the highest-ranking Hamas leader killed in Gaza since the start of the Israeli offensive in October.
Israel has killed several senior Hamas leaders over the years, and they were quickly replaced, with little impact on the group’s operations.
Al Jazeera senior political analyst Marwan Bishara said every time Israel declared victory by killing a Hamas leader, dozens of people took over his position.
“The idea of declaring victory because one or two, or several Hamas leaders were killed, proved to be just a cover,” Bishara said.
He said killing Hamas leaders was considered by Israel to be a tactical or strategic victory. “But in the end, Hamas has proven capable of producing more leaders,” he added. (Aljazeera/Z-3)
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