Massive Israeli Strikes Kill Hamas Leader, Dozens in Gaza as Resistance Fights Back
Hamas mourns senior official; children and aid-seeking women among the dead amid relentless bombardment and ground incursions.
Watan-In a new wave of massacres committed by Israeli occupation forces, a number of Palestinians were killed—including a senior Hamas leader—while others were injured in heavy bombardments across areas of ground invasion in Gaza. In response, Palestinian resistance factions launched several armed operations, including one that nearly resulted in the capture of an Israeli soldier.
Senior Hamas Leader Killed
In Gaza City, Hamas confirmed the martyrdom of Mohammad Faraj Al-Ghoul, a well-known senior figure and former Minister of Justice in the Hamas government. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential home, which also caused several other casualties.
Hamas stated:”The martyrdom of Commander Mohammad Faraj Al-Ghoul represents a great loss for Palestine and for the resistance movement. We have lost one of our faithful sons and exceptional men who dedicated their lives to liberating the land and people and lifting the historical injustice off our struggling nation.”
Other Israeli strikes killed and injured several civilians, including:
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One martyr and multiple injuries in a bombing near Hamza Mosque in Al-Labbabidi Street, west Gaza.
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Three civilians killed and others injured in a strike on the Al-Sabbagh family home in the Al-Zarqa area of Al-Tuffah neighborhood.
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Three more citizens killed by a drone strike near a school in the same neighborhood.
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Further deaths and injuries reported in Al-Shati refugee camp, Al-Zaytoun, and Al-Nadeem Street.
Civil defense teams recovered the body of a woman after hours of searching under rubble in Al-Tuffah but were unable to reach others due to lack of proper rescue equipment.
In a now-regular heartbreaking scene, bodies were transferred to Al-Shifa Hospital, prayed over, and carried in funeral processions to city cemeteries.
Escalating Attacks and Ground Operations
In the past 24 hours, Gaza saw intensified shelling, particularly in the Al-Shujaiya and Al-Tuffah areas. Artillery and drones pounded these zones, and reports confirmed the demolition of homes and use of an explosive robot in Al-Shujaiya. Drone attacks also targeted east Gaza and a home near Palestine Mosque in Al-Rimal.
Occupation forces fired smoke bombs near Gaza’s port, where many displaced families had sought refuge.
In Jabalia (north Gaza), multiple casualties were reported following Israeli bombings on residential buildings on Ahmad Fakri Abu Warda Street.
The Israeli military launched new air raids and artillery strikes on northern areas, including:
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Eastern Jabalia
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Beit Lahia
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Unspecified targets due to limited information from ground incursions
Forced Evacuation Orders
Much of northern Gaza is now under occupation control. The Israeli army issued fresh evacuation orders for eastern Gaza City and northern towns, urging residents in areas including Al-Zaytoun (east), Old City, Al-Turkman, Al-Tuffah, Al-Daraj, Al-Sabra, Jabalia (various districts), and more to flee west to Al-Mawasi near Khan Younis.
Further Strikes in Central and Southern Gaza
In Khan Younis:
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One person was killed near Jarar Al-Qudra School in Al-Mawasi.
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Two others from Abu Jameh and Abu Deqqa families were killed in Bani Suheila.
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Seven martyrs, including women, arrived at Nasser Hospital after attacks on areas of Israeli ground incursions.
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Children and women were among the wounded from drone and artillery fire.
Explosions echoed as more homes were destroyed in the eastern and southern regions of the city. Central areas were also bombarded during Israeli advances.
Targeting Starving Civilians in Rafah
Israeli forces continued targeting civilians near aid distribution centers in Rafah. Two women from Abu Taimah and Sheikh Al-Eid families were killed while searching for food for their children.
UNRWA official Sam Rose said:“Every day since the war began, the average number of children killed in Gaza equals one full classroom. There is no justification for the killing of children. A ceasefire must be reached now.”
Resistance Operations: Attempted Soldier Capture
Palestinian resistance remained active:
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Al-Quds Brigades, the military wing of Islamic Jihad, fired rockets at Be’eri settlement in retaliation.
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They destroyed two Israeli military vehicles:
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One with a barrel bomb near the Islamic University area in Khan Younis
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Another with a reverse-engineered IED on Central Street in Al-Shujaiya
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The group published footage of fighters using 107mm rockets and mortars on Israeli forces in Jabal Al-Sourani, east Gaza.
A field commander from Al-Quds Brigades detailed a complex ambush in Abasan al-Kabira near Khan Younis that aimed to capture Israeli soldiers.
After planting “Barq” shock-explosive devices along the armored vehicle’s path, fighters stormed the area, killed one soldier, and attempted to drag him for capture before heavy Israeli fire forced a withdrawal.“This was not our first operation of this kind, and it will not be the last,” he affirmed.
