IDF kills Hamas leader in Gaza humanitarian area

The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday said an intelligence-based airstrike killed terrorist Hassam Shahwan in a humanitarian area in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. Shahwan was the head of Hamas’ internal security forces, the Israeli military said.

The outfit often violently interrogated members of Gaza’s population, as well as suppressed dissent within the terrorist organization, the IDF said. The unit was also responsible for numerous human rights abuses, Israel said. Shahwan specifically had helped Hamas’ military wing plan attacks against Israeli soldiers, the IDF added.

Has Hamas confirmed Shahwan’s death? Gaza Now, a Hamas-affiliated Telegram Channel, confirmed that 10 individuals died in an Israeli airstrike in nearby al-Mawasi. News outlet Al Jazeera reported that it was that attack that killed Hassam Shahwan. The outlet, however, described Shahwan as a chief’s deputy of Gaza’s police force. The chief of Gaza’s police force, Mahmud Salah, also died in the attack, Al Jazeera said.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report in The Sift about a Jewish advocacy group criticizing Pope Francis over remarks he made about the conflict in Gaza.