Israel has said it "eliminated" a founding Hamas military leader and mastermind behind the October 7 attack.
Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was killed during an airstrike on the Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City, according to an IDF spokesman.
An IDF spokesman said: "Issa led Hamas’ force build-up, training, and planned the October 7 massacre.
"As Head of Combat Support, he advanced aerial & naval attacks against Israelis."
The IDF said Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa was targeted
IDF
According to reports from Palestinian media, Al-Issa was killed along with his wife and grandson, though this has not been independently confirmed.
Israeli media reported Al-Issa was also a co-founder of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades’ military academy which was used for training Hamas fighters.
The IDF said in a statement: "In the past, Issa led Hamas’ force-buildup efforts in the Gaza Strip, was one of the founders of its military wing, served as Head of the Training Headquarters, and was a member of Hamas’ General Security Council.
"Additionally, Issa played a significant role in the planning and execution of the brutal October 7 massacre."
Hamas militants
GETTY
It comes a day after President Donald Trump he believes it is possible that a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict between Israel and IHamas will be reached within a week.
Trump said he had been just been talking to some of the people involved in trying to reach a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.
Hamas has said it is willing to free remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war, while Israel says it can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. However, Hamas refuses to lay down its arms.
The President said: "I think it's close. I just spoke to some of the people involved...We think within the next week we're going to get a ceasefire."
A spokesman for US special envoy Steve Witkoff's office said they had no information to share beyond Trump's comments.
Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer plans to visit Washington starting on Monday for talks with Trump administration officials about Gaza, Iran and a possible White House visit by Netanyahu, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Gaza's health ministry says Israel's military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians.
The assault has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court.
Israel strongly denies these accusations.
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