Israel claims to have killed Hamas military intelligence chief

The Israeli military said on Friday it killed the head of Hamas’ military intelligence in southern Gaza on Thursday, Sky News reported.

In a post on X, the military named the Hamas leader as Osama Tabash. It said he was also the head of the militant group’s surveillance and targeting unit.

It said he was responsible for “planning and coordinating targets and infiltration objectives” during the October 2023 terror attack and was in charge of “combat strategy on the ground”.

It did not say when or where he was killed and Hamas has not commented on the claim.

It comes as Israel’s defence minister said he had ordered ground forces to advance deeper into Gaza and to hold more land in an effort to pressure Hamas to free more hostages.

“The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel,” said Israel Katz.

Israel resumed airstrikes a few days ago after an extension to the ceasefire that had seen Israeli hostages swapped for Palestinian prisoners could not be agreed.

The truce was supposed to continue as long as talks on the second phase continued, but Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu refused to enter substantive negotiations.

Nearly 600 Palestinians have now been killed since Tuesday - many of them children, according to Gaza health authorities.

Israel has said it will escalate operations until Hamas releases the 59 hostages it still holds - 24 of whom are believed alive - and gives up control of Gaza.