The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed an airstrike in central Gaza that killed a senior officer in Hamas’ internal security apparatus, along with another Hamas official.
According to medics, police, and Hamas’ interior ministry, the strike targeted a vehicle travelling through Deir al‑Balah and killed Colonel Wael El‑Ledawi, described as the head of Hamas’ internal security service in central Gaza, and Major Ramez Abu Zraiq.
The IDF said it struck a Hamas militant, without publicly naming the target, but Israel has repeatedly accused members of the Hamas‑run police and internal security forces of being part of the group’s armed wing and posing immediate threats to Israeli forces.
Hamas claims that Israel’s ongoing attacks on its police and security infrastructure are meant to sow chaos in Gaza and violate the U.S.‑brokered ceasefire, which halted full‑scale fighting but not near‑daily Israeli strikes.