Israel kills two senior Hamas officials in targeted airstrikes in Gaza

The IDF successfully targeted Hamas' finance minister Jawad Abu Shmala and head of international relations Zakaria Abu Maamar.

 Zakaria Abu Maamar, a member of Hamas, speaks as Palestinian Hamas supporters attend a rally against visits by Israeli right wing groups to Al-Aqsa mosque, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip May 26, 2023 (photo credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)
Zakaria Abu Maamar, a member of Hamas, speaks as Palestinian Hamas supporters attend a rally against visits by Israeli right wing groups to Al-Aqsa mosque, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip May 26, 2023
(photo credit: REUTERS/IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA)

The IDF announced it targeted and killed Hamas' finance minister Jawad Abu Shmala, who the Israeli military said was responsible for the distribution of funds for terror inside and outside the Gaza Strip.

Shmala was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike overnight on Monday. 

The IDF also successfully targeted another member of Hamas' political bureau, Zakaria Abu Maamar, who served as Hamas' head of international relations.

 Jawad Abu Shmala, killed in an Israeli airstike during Operation Swords of Iron (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)
Jawad Abu Shmala, killed in an Israeli airstike during Operation Swords of Iron (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)

In his job, Abu Maamar was responsible for the direct communications between different Palestinian factions within the Strip. 

The IDF noted that he was connected to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and belonged to Hamas' senior decision-making forum which planned a host of attacks and assaults on Israel's security.