Palestinian militant group Hamas has confirmed that its Gaza City commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday.
Bassem Issa was the highest-ranking military figure in Hamas to be killed by Israel since 2014 and it marks the first time the militant group has acknowledged the death of one of its fighters during this latest round of fighting.
The armed wing of Hamas said Issa was killed “along with a few of his fellow brothers of leaders and holy fighters” during the fighting that has been going on for two days in Gaza.
The fighting between Israelis and Palestinians had already intensified on Tuesday night and into Wednesday, with civilians on both sides killed.