Israel says senior Hamas commander, October 7 planner killed in Gaza

The Israeli military said on Saturday it has killed a senior Hamas commander in an airstrike on the Gaza Strip.

Hakham al-Issa, described as one of the founders of the Palestinian Islamist group and a leading figure in its military wing, was said to have been involved in planning and executing the October 7, 2023 attacks in Israel.

The attacks triggered Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza. More than 56,400 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks in the sealed-off territory, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.

According to the Israeli military, al-Issa was one of the last remaining high-ranking Hamas commanders in Gaza.

He most recently served as chief of staff for the group's "combat and administrative support division."