Latest news with #Bardawil
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Who Remains in Hamas' Political Bureau after Numerous Killings?
Israel has intensified assassinations targeting senior members of Hamas' political bureau in Gaza, posing a major challenge for the group to fill organizational gaps amid ongoing security pressures and relentless Israeli pursuit. This week, Israel killed two prominent Hamas political leaders in Gaza—Salah al-Bardawil and Ismail Barhoum—bringing the total number of slain bureau members to five since the Israeli military resumed its bombardment of the enclave last Tuesday. Before Bardawil and Barhoum were killed within 24 hours in an airstrike on Khan Younis in southern Gaza, three other political bureau members—Mohammed al-Jamassi, Issam al-Da'alis, and Yasser Harb—were assassinated in separate attacks carried out simultaneously when Israel resumed its offensive on March 18. Bardawil was part of Hamas' National Relations Office, while Barhoum oversaw financial affairs. Jamassi served in the legal department and held a general membership position. Da'alis, a Gaza-based member, initially led the economic department before managing governmental affairs. Harb was part of the Gaza office, responsible for organizational administration in the northern Gaza Strip. High-Profile Assassinations At the start of Israel's military campaign following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, Israeli forces struggled to locate senior Hamas leaders. However, after several months, Israel launched a series of targeted assassinations, some occurring in rapid succession. Among the most prominent figures killed was Hamas' political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran in July 2024. His deputy, Saleh al-Arouri, was killed in Beirut in January of the same year. Yahya Sinwar, who succeeded Haniyeh as Hamas' overall leader after serving as the group's political chief in Gaza, was killed during clashes with Israeli forces in Rafah's Tel al-Sultan neighborhood on October 16, 2024. Israeli forces only identified him after his death. Before the recent wave of killings, Israel had already targeted several high-ranking Hamas figures. Zakaria Abu Maamar and Jawad Abu Shamala were killed on October 10, 2023—just three days after Hamas' attack on Israeli towns near Gaza. Both died in an Israeli airstrike on a building in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Abu Maamar headed the National Relations Office within Hamas' political bureau in Gaza and was also a member of the group's general bureau. Abu Shamala, a political bureau member in Gaza, handled security affairs. On October 19, Israel assassinated Jamila Al-Shanti, a member of both the political bureau in Gaza and the general bureau, in an airstrike north of Gaza City. On the same day, Osama al-Muzaini, a Gaza-based political bureau member and head of the group's Shura Council in the enclave, was killed when an Israeli strike hit an apartment in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood. In March 2024, Israel killed Marwan Issa, a senior Hamas political bureau member, in an airstrike targeting a tunnel in Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Issa, who reportedly had cancer, was a key link between Hamas' political and military wings, serving as deputy commander of the group's armed branch, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. In August 2024, Israel assassinated Rouhi Mushtaha and Samih al-Sarraj, both members of Hamas' political bureau in Gaza, in an airstrike on a tunnel in the industrial zone south of Gaza City. Hamas Political Bureau Structure Hamas traditionally elects members to a general political bureau and separate regional bureaus for Gaza, the West Bank, and abroad. Some members serve in both their regional bureau and the general bureau, depending on the votes they receive. In previous years, the general political bureau comprised 17 members, but this number increased to 24 during the last two election cycles. Each region maintains at least 10 representatives, though the number can vary based on field conditions, particularly in the West Bank. Following the recent assassinations, the remaining general political bureau members from Gaza include Khalil al-Hayya, Nizar Awadallah, Mahmoud al-Zahar, Ghazi Hamad, Fathi Hammad, and Suhail al-Hindi. Gaza's regional bureau still includes Ibrahim Sabra and Kamal Abu Aoun. Among the remaining senior members of the Gaza-based political bureau, Hayya, Awadallah, Hamad, Hammad, and al-Hindi have been living outside Gaza since before the start of the Israeli war. Other prominent figures in the general political bureau include Khaled Meshaal, Musa Abu Marzouk, Mohammad Nazzal, Izzat al-Rishq, Zaher Jabarin, Mahmoud Mardawi, and other unnamed individuals whose identities Hamas keeps confidential for security reasons. The political bureau is the highest executive body within Hamas, responsible for making final decisions within the movement. Critical decisions are made by consensus between the political bureau and the Shura Council, a body composed of 50 members.
Al Arabiya
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israeli strike kills Hamas official in Gaza hospital, Hamas source says
An Israeli air strike on Sunday killed a member of Hamas's political bureau as he underwent treatment in hospital, a source in the Islamist movement said, after Israel confirmed it targeted 'a key terrorist.' 'The Israeli army assassinated Hamas political bureau member Ismail Barhoum,' the Hamas source said, requesting anonymity to speak more freely. 'Warplanes bombed the operating room at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where Barhoum was receiving treatment after sustaining critical injuries in an air strike targeting his home in Khan Younis at dawn last Tuesday.' AFP photos showed the building largely undamaged except for fire blazing in one section off a stairwell. Barhoum is the fourth member of Hamas's political bureau killed since last Tuesday when Israel resumed air strikes in the territory after an impasse over continuing a ceasefire. Israel's military confirmed the hospital strike which it said was conducted with 'precise munitions' following extensive intelligence-gathering. It said in a statement that the target was a key member of 'the Hamas terrorist organization who was operating inside the Nasser Hospital compound,' the military said. The Ministry of Health in Gaza said Israeli forces 'have just targeted the surgery building inside the Nasser Medical Complex, which houses many patients and wounded individuals, and a large fire has erupted at the site.' Gaza's civil defense rescue agency said the hospital's emergency department had been targeted. The agency did not provide immediate details on casualties. Earlier Sunday, Hamas said an Israeli air strike the previous day near Khan Younis killed Salah al-Bardawil, a senior member of its political bureau. Bardawil, 65, was killed along with his wife in a camp in al-Mawasi, the group said. The Israeli military confirmed that it had targeted Bardawil, saying that 'as part of his role, (he) directed the strategic and military planning' of Hamas in Gaza. His 'elimination further degrades Hamas' military and government capabilities,' it added.
Iraqi News
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Hamas source says Israeli strike kills Hamas official in Gaza hospital
Gaza City – An Israeli air strike on Sunday killed a member of Hamas's political bureau as he underwent treatment in hospital, a source in the Islamist movement said, after Israel confirmed it targeted 'a key terrorist'. 'The Israeli army assassinated Hamas political bureau member Ismail Barhoum,' the Hamas source said, requesting anonymity to speak more freely. 'Warplanes bombed the operating room at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, where Barhoum was receiving treatment after sustaining critical injuries in an air strike targeting his home in Khan Yunis at dawn last Tuesday.' AFP photos showed the building of about four-storeys largely undamaged except for fire blazing in one section off a stairwell. Barhoum is the fourth member of Hamas's political bureau killed since last Tuesday when Israel resumed air strikes in the territory after an impasse over continuing a ceasefire. Israel's military confirmed the hospital strike which it said was conducted with 'precise munitions' following extensive intelligence-gathering. It said in a statement that the target was a key member of 'the Hamas terrorist organisation who was operating inside the Nasser Hospital compound,' the military said. The Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza said Israeli forces 'have just targeted the surgery building inside the Nasser Medical Complex, which houses many patients and wounded individuals, and a large fire has erupted at the site.' Gaza's civil defence rescue agency said the hospital's emergency department had been targeted. The agency did not provide immediate details on casualties. Earlier Sunday, Hamas said an Israeli air strike the previous day near Khan Yunis killed Salah al-Bardawil, a senior member of its political bureau. Bardawil, 65, was killed along with his wife in a camp in al-Mawasi, the group said. The Israeli military confirmed that it had targeted Bardawil, saying that 'as part of his role, (he) directed the strategic and military planning' of Hamas in Gaza. His 'elimination further degrades Hamas' military and government capabilities', it added.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hamas source says Israeli strike kills Hamas official in Gaza hospital
An Israeli air strike on Sunday killed a member of Hamas's political bureau as he underwent treatment in hospital, a source in the Islamist movement said, after Israel confirmed it targeted "a key terrorist". "The Israeli army assassinated Hamas political bureau member Ismail Barhoum," the Hamas source said, requesting anonymity to speak more freely. "Warplanes bombed the operating room at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, where Barhoum was receiving treatment after sustaining critical injuries in an air strike targeting his home in Khan Yunis at dawn last Tuesday." AFP photos showed the building of about four-storeys largely undamaged except for fire blazing in one section off a stairwell. Barhoum is the fourth member of Hamas's political bureau killed since last Tuesday when Israel resumed air strikes in the territory after an impasse over continuing a ceasefire. Israel's military confirmed the hospital strike which it said was conducted with "precise munitions" following extensive intelligence-gathering. It said in a statement that the target was a key member of "the Hamas terrorist organisation who was operating inside the Nasser Hospital compound," the military said. The Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza said Israeli forces "have just targeted the surgery building inside the Nasser Medical Complex, which houses many patients and wounded individuals, and a large fire has erupted at the site." Gaza's civil defence rescue agency said the hospital's emergency department had been targeted. The agency did not provide immediate details on casualties. Earlier Sunday, Hamas said an Israeli air strike the previous day near Khan Yunis killed Salah al-Bardawil, a senior member of its political bureau. Bardawil, 65, was killed along with his wife in a camp in al-Mawasi, the group said. The Israeli military confirmed that it had targeted Bardawil, saying that "as part of his role, (he) directed the strategic and military planning" of Hamas in Gaza. His "elimination further degrades Hamas' military and government capabilities", it added. az-reg/it
Khaleej Times
23-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Hamas confirms death of political leader in Israeli strike in Southern Gaza
Palestinian group Hamas confirmed on Sunday that Salah al-Bardawil, a senior member of its political bureau, was killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza the previous day. Bardawil, 65, was killed along with his wife in a camp in al-Mawasi, near Khan Yunis, according to Hamas. He is the third member of the political bureau to be killed since Israel resumed air strikes on Tuesday, after Yasser Harb and Essam al-Dalis, the head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military confirmed Sunday that it had targeted Bardawil, saying that "as part of his role, (he) directed the strategic and military planning" of Hamas in Gaza. His "elimination further degrades Hamas' military and government capabilities", it added. Bardawil, born in the Khan Yunis refugee camp, joined Hamas when it was founded in 1987, serving as a spokesman before rising through the ranks and being elected to the political bureau in 2021. He spoke against security cooperation between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, and supported armed struggle against Israel. Detained by Israel in 1993 and interrogated for 70 days, according to Hamas, Bardawil was also arrested several times by the security forces of the Palestinian Authority. In the flare-up since last week, Hamas has also announced the deaths of interior ministry head Mahmud Abu Watfa, and Bahjat Abu Sultan, the director general of the Internal Security Services. Hamas sources said on Sunday that Mohammed Hassan al-Amur, the bodyguard of slain leader Yahya Sinwar, was killed in an overnight strike on his home in Khan Yunis. Hamas has been considerably weakened by the deaths of many of its leaders, both inside and outside the Gaza Strip, since the start of the war triggered by its deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The head of Hamas's political wing, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in Tehran on July 31, 2024, in an explosion claimed by Israel. His successor Sinwar died on October 16 in Gaza.
