Israeli Defense Minister: Hamas Leaders Abroad on Target List

Tel Aviv - Afaq News - Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said today, Tuesday, that the leaders of Hamas located outside the Gaza Strip are still on the Israeli targeting list, in a new threat to assassinate the movement's leaders abroad.

Katz added that Hamas leaders "survived due to a mistake," vowing to target them in the future, following Israel's announcement of the assassination of the commander of the northern Gaza Strip brigade in the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Izz al-Din Abdul Aziz al-Bayek, known as "Abu Hamza."

Katz stated that Israel will continue to pursue Hamas leaders, adding that the Israeli army killed the northern brigade commander, noting that military operations aim to strike the movement's capabilities and disarm it.

The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades announced early Tuesday the martyrdom of Izz al-Din al-Bayek, a member of the general military council and commander of the northern Gaza Strip brigade, as a result of an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential apartment in the al-Nasr neighborhood west of Gaza City. Local sources reported that the airstrike also resulted in the martyrdom of another Palestinian and injuries to several citizens.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the operation targeting al-Bayek, while Palestinian sources stated that the airstrike hit a residential apartment in the al-Nasr neighborhood of Gaza City.