Hamas confirms death of senior spokesman in Jabalia strike

Reports suggest that Al-Qanou had been living in a tent in the Jabalia refugee camp before the strike. Several other people were injured in the attack, according to the Hamas-controlled Al-Aqsa news channel.
The IDF is yet to confirm his death or comment on the strike.

However, if confirmed, he would be the latest in a string of senior Hamas officials killed since the collapse of the Gaza ceasefire last week.

They reportedly include Mahmoud Abu Watfa, who headed the interior ministry, justice ministry director-general Ahmad Al-Khatta and two members of the Hamas political bureau – Abu Ubaida Al-Jamassi and Issam Da’alis (though separate reports of the latter’s death have circulated for months)

The strikes come amid a renewal of rocket salvos between Israel and its regional foes, with fire exchanged with Gaza, southern Lebanon, Yemen and Syria.

Dozens of rockets aimed at Israeli population centres were intercepted by the Iron Dome this week, though shrapnel did fall on some smaller cities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed the threats from several of his ministers that the IDF will begin to occupy parts of Gaza if Hamas fails to release its remaining hostages imminently.

Netanyahu did not outline what his pledge to “seize territory” would mean in practical terms, but Defence Minister Israel Katz has previously suggested that this would involve a exponential occupation and annexation of land in the Strip.