Senior Hamas leader among 23 killed in Israeli strikes in southern Gaza

A senior Hamas leader has been killed in a predawn strike in southern Gaza, as Israel has intensified attacks across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 634 Palestinians since breaking the ceasefire deal on Tuesday.

Salah al-Bardawil, a senior member of Hamas’s political bureau, was killed on Sunday along with his wife while praying in their tent shelter in Khan Younis, according to the Palestinian group, which accused Israel of assassinating him.

“His blood, that of his wife and martyrs, will remain fueling the battle of liberation and independence. The criminal enemy will not break our determination and will,” the group said in a statement.

Israeli officials had no immediate comment to offer. Several senior Hamas leaders have been killed since Israel resumed its offensive last week.

At least 23 people were killed in predawn raids on Sunday, with the Israeli military issuing evacuation orders for Tal as-Sultan in Rafah.

Reporting from Deir el-Balah, in central Gaza, media’s Tareq Abu Azzoum said Israel has launched “fierce and extensive air attacks” on Gaza over the past few hours.

“The situation here remains critical,” Abu Azzoum said.

“There has been a clear escalation in Gaza since Israel unilaterally broke the ceasefire and launched attacks on heavily populated neighbourhoods, hospitals, schools and mosques, too,” he explained, adding that there had been no confrontation between Israeli troops and Hamas fighters so far.