Israeli air strike kills another top Hamas leader at Gaza Hospital

New Delhi, March 24: An Israeli air strike on a hospital in Gaza killed a senior Hamas leader, Ismail Barhoum, on Sunday evening, a Hamas official told the BBC. Barhoum, who managed the group’s financial affairs, was receiving treatment at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after being wounded in a previous attack four days earlier, intnational media reported.

Israel's military said it targeted a key Hamas member inside the hospital compound after gathering intelligence. It claimed "precise munitions" were used to limit harm. However, Gaza's health ministry reported that many others, including medical staff, were injured, and part of the hospital was destroyed.

Another Hamas leader, Salah al-Bardaweel, and his wife were also killed in a separate Israeli air strike in Khan Younis on Sunday. The health ministry said at least 30 people were killed in attacks across Khan Younis and Rafah earlier that day.

Israel resumed its military operations in Gaza on March 18 after a nearly two-month ceasefire collapsed. Hundreds have died in air strikes since then. Israel blamed Hamas for rejecting a U.S.-backed truce extension, while Hamas accused Israel of breaking the original agreement.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel responded with a military offensive in Gaza, which, according to the Gaza health ministry, has killed more than 50,000 people.