U.S. National Security Advisor confirmed reports that Israel has killed a top Hamas commander, making significant progress against the group. Among those killed was Hamas’ third in command, Marwan Issa. The top leaders are now in hiding, likely deep in the Hamas tunnel network. Israeli forces launched a raid on Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, killing Hamas’ top official in internal security, Faiq Mabhouh. The military accused Hamas militants of using the hospital as a base for militant activities.
Israel has previously raided the same medical center, claiming Hamas was concealing a major command and control center within and beneath the compound. The ministry says around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital, including patients and medical staff. Israel's chief military spokesman assured that patients and medical staff could remain in the compound, with a safe passage available for civilians to leave.
Concerns within the Biden administration over Israel’s prospective offensive in the southern city of Rafah have been growing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to send a team of officials to Washington to discuss the matter. Biden questioned Netanyahu over a lack of a coherent strategy to defeat Hamas. The Biden administration warned against an operation in Rafah without a credible plan to ensure the safety of innocent Palestinian civilians.
Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry estimates that more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, with roughly two-thirds being women and children. Israel has disputed these figures.
