On Saturday, Israel's Army Radio reported that Mohammad Deif, leader of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, was targeted in an airstrike in the Khan Yunis area of southern Gaza.
A senior source mentioned a high likelihood of Deif's death in the strike, but confirmation was still awaited, Israeli state broadcaster KAN reported.
The IDF's Southern Command and the Israeli air force, in a joint operation with the ISA, targeted an area where two senior Hamas terrorists and additional terrorists were hiding among civilians. The location of the strike was an open area surrounded by trees, several buildings, and sheds.
Reports from Israeli media indicated that Rafa Salama, commander of Hamas's Khan Yunis Brigade, was also targeted in the Israeli strike. The Saudi news outlet Al Hadath later confirmed that Salama had been killed.
* Ynet has contributed to this report