Israeli airstrikes have killed Ismail Barhoum, the newly appointed leader of Hamas, just days after he took charge of the militant group. His death, confirmed by Hamas itself, comes as Israeli airstrikes across Gaza have claimed at least 25 more lives, including several women and children, according to reports from local hospitals.
The killing of Barhoum represents a significant blow to Hamas as it continues to grapple with the aftermath of Yahya Sinwar’s death earlier this month. Barhoum had reportedly assumed leadership shortly after Sinwar’s death in an Israeli airstrike on March 9. While the precise date of Barhoum’s appointment is unclear, it is believed that his rise to power came in the days following Sinwar’s assassination.
The militant group’s leadership now faces yet another upheaval, and questions remain as to whether Hamas can maintain cohesion in the face of Israel’s sustained assault.
Israeli officials have claimed that their strikes are intended to dismantle Hamas’ command structure, but the resulting civilian casualties continue to mount.
Reports from Gaza’s hospitals show the grim toll of Israel’s offensive: The Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza City received 11 bodies from strikes overnight, including three women and four children, according to local reports.
The Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis reported several more bodies, and the European Hospital received additional casualties from nearby areas.
The Health Ministry in Gaza claimed that the overall death toll has surpassed 50,000, with women and children making up more than half of the victims. Israel, meanwhile, claims to have killed around 20,000 militants, though this figure has not been independently verified.
Despite the rising death toll, Hamas has vowed to continue its resistance, and analysts suggest that the killing of Barhoum is unlikely to have a major impact on the group’s ability to fight back.
Hamas has demonstrated resilience in the face of leadership losses in the past, and its operations show little sign of slowing down.
The ongoing conflict is also deepening divisions within the international community, with growing calls for both sides to engage in peace talks, though such hopes seem increasingly distant.
Trauma surgeon Feroze Sidhwa, working in Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, described the harrowing reality for the patients he is treating.
Many had been previously injured in earlier Israeli airstrikes before being struck again by the latest wave of bombardments.
Mr Sidwa said: “They were already trauma patients, and now they’ve been traumatised for a second time.”
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed Barhoum had been targeted in an airstrike.
A statement issued by the country’s military said it had used “precise munitions in order to mitigate harm” after an “extensive intelligence-gathering process”.
It added: “Hamas exploits civilian infrastructure while brutally endangering the Gazan population – cynically using an active hospital as a shelter for planning and executing murderous terrorist attacks in a direct violation of international law.”