Hamas confirms senior commander killed in airstrikes; Israel says next step might not be ground invasion

A senior Hamas armed commander was killed during airstrikes by Israel in Gaza, Hamas’ armed wing Izz el-Deem Al-Qassam Brigades said Tuesday on Telegram, according to a Google translation. The killing was later confirmed by Israeli military.

Nofal was not only a member of the General Military Council, but also commander of the Central Brigade in the al-Qassam Brigades, the Palestinian militant group said.

It has been anticipated the Israel might soon begin their ground invasion in Gaza, but the military stated that plans might change.

“We are preparing for the next stages of war. We haven’t said what they will be. Everybody’s talking about the ground offensive. It might be something different,” stated a spokesperson.

Israel on Tuesday enters its 11th day of an aerial bombardment campaign of the Gaza Strip, over which it has ordered a complete siege, which has halted water, food, electricity, and fuel supply to over 2 million population.

The siege has been critised on an international level by human rights groups, and have accused Israel of breaking humanitarian law. The siege was ordered in response to brutal attack carried out by Hamas militants on October 7, which claimed lives of over 1,300 Israelis.