Israel's precision strikes at Gaza hospital kills Ismail Barhoum, Senior Member of the Hamas Political Bureau

IDF Strikes Key Hamas Leader in Targeted Airstrike on Gaza Hospital

The IDF stated that the operation was part of a broader intelligence-gathering effort, with a focus on minimizing harm to civilians. While the military did not name the target, unverified reports from Gaza and Saudi Al-Hadath news suggest that the target was Ismail Barhoum, a senior member of Hamas's political bureau.

Barhoum, responsible for overseeing the distribution of funds to Hamas in Gaza, was reportedly killed in the attack. He was also linked to the Charitable Institutions Association, which manages hundreds of charities that are accused of funneling funds to support Hamas' operations. The airstrike was carried out with precision munitions to reduce collateral damage, though the use of a civilian hospital as a cover for military operations remains a point of contention.

The IDF emphasized that Hamas exploits civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, to shelter personnel and store weapons, thereby endangering the local population. "The use of an active hospital as a shelter for the planning and execution of terrorist attacks is a violation of international law," the IDF stated. The operation marks the continued efforts by Israel to dismantle Hamas' leadership and infrastructure, despite the challenges posed by the group's use of civilian sites for military purposes.

Following this strike, reports indicated that Barhoum’s death adds to a growing list of senior Hamas figures targeted by Israel in recent days, with five members of the Hamas political bureau having been killed since March 18. The IDF and Shin Bet are committed to continuing their operations against the group to remove any threats posed to Israeli civilians.