Israeli Air Strike Claims Hamas Leader Marwan Issa’s Life
In a recent development, White House official Jake Sullivan confirmed that Hamas leader Marwan Issa has been killed in an Israeli air strike.
Issa, serving as the deputy military commander, becomes the highest-ranking Hamas leader to fall victim to the ongoing war that commenced on 7 October.
Although there has been no official statement from the Palestinian group, reports suggest that Issa was targeted in a strike on a tunnel complex beneath the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza the previous week.
Regarded as one of Israel’s most-wanted individuals, Issa, the deputy commander of Hamas’s military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, was directly linked by the European Union to the 7 October attack that claimed around 1,200 lives.
Having faced imprisonment by Israel during the first Palestinian intifada and subsequent detainment by the Palestinian Authority, Issa’s demise marks a significant blow to Hamas.
International Response and US Involvement
Since the war’s onset, the Israeli military has eliminated several top Hamas leaders, including political leader Saleh al-Arouri.
Sullivan, the White House’s national security adviser, affirmed the US’s commitment to assisting Israel in its pursuit of key Hamas figures, asserting that “justice will come for them, too.”
President Biden expressed deep concern over the escalating civilian casualties in Gaza during a recent conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Biden emphasized the need for a strategic plan to defeat Hamas and discouraged any potential Israeli military incursion into Rafah, warning of dire consequences.
Diplomatic Efforts and Criticism
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit the Middle East for the sixth time since the conflict erupted, aiming to facilitate international efforts for a ceasefire and hostage release.
Meanwhile, senior Democrats in the US, including Chuck Schumer, have criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the situation, calling for new elections in Israel.
Despite mounting pressure, Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s goals in the conflict, emphasizing the need to eliminate Hamas and ensure national security.
As diplomatic talks and negotiations continue, the region remains on edge, awaiting potential developments that could shape the course of the conflict in Gaza.
