The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) killed Ismail Barhoum, head of Hamas's finances and institutions with the terrorist group's political bureau, the military said on Monday.
The elimination took place overnight during a strike in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza.
Who was Barhoum?
Barhoum was responsible for the finances and institutions portfolio in Hamas's political bureau and was the successor of Issam al-Da'alis, the former Hamas Prime Minister who was killed last week.
Barhoum was a central figure in Hamas's political bureau and played a major role in Hamas's decision-making for their terror activities against the IDF within the Gaza Strip.
He was also in charge of managing Hamas's finances, including channeling funds to it's military wing for planning and executing terror attacks against Israel. It's because of these funds that Hamas has been able to continuously survive in Gaza.
IDF strike on Nasser Hospital
The IDF and Shin Bet announced in a joint statement on Sunday that they had struck Barhoum, who was operating within the Nasser Hospital.
The strike was conducted following an intelligence-gathering process and with precise munitions, according to the joint statement.
The IDF renewed hostilities with Hamas on March 18, significantly expanding its invasion of Gaza, ordering an evacuation of Palestinian civilians of Tel Sultan, and moving to reoccupy a second major area within one of Gaza’s four main sectors.
Only hours later, the IDF announced that it was adding a third division, Division 36, into the Gaza invasion to join the thrust along with Division 252 in central Gaza and Division 143 in Rafah, as well as the Golani Brigade and Tank Brigade 188.
Last week, the IDF had only invaded one area in each of Gaza’s four major quarters: northern Gaza, central Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah, putting pressure on Hamas but far from a full-scale invasion of large portions of the Strip.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.