This, combined with Israel preventing aid trucks from entering Gaza, signals an Israeli strategic pivot from strictly targeting “military” wing operatives to dismantling the Hamas’ governing infrastructure.
By Akiva Van Koningsveld, JNS
The Israel Defense Forces conducted extensive air and artillery strikes across northern, central and southern Gaza overnight on Thursday, killing Abd al-Latif Qanoua, a senior Hamas spokesman, slain in Jabalia in a strike on his tent.
The attacks are part of a broader campaign to systematically eliminate key figures in both Hamas’ military-terrorist wing, and its “political” leadership.
This, combined with Israel preventing aid trucks from entering Gaza—supplies that were stolen by Hamas and used to bolster its regime—signals an Israeli strategic pivot from strictly targeting “military” wing operatives to dismantling the governing infrastructure sustaining Hamas’ rule.
In recent days, Israel has killed several senior officials of Hamas’ Political Bureau. These included Ismail Barhoum, who managed the organization’s finances and directed funds toward terror planning and weapons procurement.
He was killed in a joint IDF and Shin Bet operation at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. Just before his death, Barhoum had succeeded Issam Da’alis, Hamas’ “prime minister” in Gaza, who was killed in mid-March. Salah Bardawil, head of Hamas’ Planning and Development Office in southern Gaza, was also targeted and killed by Israel.