An Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza has resulted in the death of top Hamas political leader Salah al Bardaweel, according to militant group officials.
Mr al Bardaweel was a prominent member of Hamas’s political bureau and the Palestinian parliament, known for frequently engaging with the media.
Hamas released a statement describing him as “a beacon of political, media, and national activism,” and a “symbol of honesty, steadfastness, and sacrifice.”
The airstrike, which hit Khan Younis, also took the lives of Mr al Bardaweel’s wife and several other Palestinians.

At least 30 Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli strikes on Rafah and Khan Younis on Sunday, according to Gaza health authorities.
The European Hospital and Kuwaiti Hospital reported that women and children were among the victims of the Khan Younis attack.

Explosions were reported throughout the north, central, and southern Gaza Strip in the early hours of Sunday as Israeli planes targeted several locations.
More than 50,000 people have been killed in the territory since the conflict began, according to Gaza health officials.
The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its casualty figures—it has however previously stated that more than half of those killed in the conflict are women and children.

The conflict began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas militants launched a cross-border raid into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and capturing around 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. In response, Israel initiated an air and ground assault in Gaza.

Israel’s military ended a nearly two-month ceasefire with Hamas on Tuesday following a series of intense airstrikes on Gaza.
Israel claims Hamas broke the ceasefire, a charge the group denies, counterclaiming that Israel violated the agreement initially brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintains that the principal objective of the war is to completely dismantle Hamas.
Mr Netanyahu also stated that Israel’s latest military operation aims to force Hamas to release the remaining hostages.
Sky News interviewer Sophy Ridge challenged the ambassador’s claims, pointing out that Hamas had released all agreed hostages during the first phase of the agreement.
“We are dealing with terrorists,” Mr Hotovely stated. “We are not dealing with civilised people.
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Hamas has been advocating for serious negotiations on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, which involves the exchange of remaining hostages for Palestinian political prisoners, a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a permanent ceasefire.
Negotiations were supposed to begin last month, but it is uncertain whether or when they will now occur.