Israel's military claims death of top Hamas commander who manufactured arms for militants

As the Israeli military’s air and ground offensive targeted the militants’ extensive tunnel network beneath the besieged Palestinian enclave, it claimed the lives of multiple fighters and a top Hamas weapons manufacturer in the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces have surrounded Gaza City, the principal stronghold of the Hamas militant group in the region. While Hamas claims its fighters have suffered significant casualties, the military claims that troops have advanced into the center of the heavily populated city.

According to an Israeli military statement, fighters engaged in anti-tank or ground-to-ground rocket fire were killed in two different strikes, along with Mahsein Abu Zina, a prominent Hamas armorer.

Clashes between militants and Israeli forces were also reported by Palestinian media close to Gaza City’s al-Shati (Beach) refugee camp.

International media including Reuters could not verify the battlefield claims of either side.

Israel has pounded Gaza from the air and used ground troops to divide the narrow coastal strip in two, following the Hamas raid on southern Israel on Oct. 7, when gunmen killed 1,400 people and took some 240 hostages.

The Israeli bombardment has killed more than 10,000 Palestinians, around 40% of them children, over the past month, according to counts by health officials in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Israel says 32 of its soldiers have been killed.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel had “one target – Hamas terrorists in Gaza, their infrastructure, their commanders, bunkers, communications rooms”.

Chief military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said combat engineers were using explosive devices to destroy a tunnel network built by Hamas that stretches for hundreds of kilometres (miles) beneath Gaza.

Israeli tanks have encountered heavy resistance from Hamas fighters using the tunnels to launch ambushes, according to sources with Hamas and the separate Islamic Jihad militant group.

Israelis have voiced fear that military operations could further endanger hostages, who are believed to be held in the tunnels. Israel says it won’t agree to a ceasefire until the hostages are released. Hamas says it won’t stop fighting while Gaza is under attack.

“I challenge (Israel) if it has been able, to this moment, to record any military achievement on the ground other than killing civilians,” senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told Al Jazeera television.

“Gaza is unbreakable and will remain a thorn in the throat of the Americans and the Zionists,” Hamad said.

(with inputs from agencies)