Gaza, March 23, 2025: Israeli airstrikes killed Hamas political leader Salah al-Bardaweel and his wife in Khan Younis on Sunday, according to official sources within the militant group. The attack, part of Israel’s intensified military campaign, targeted a shelter where Bardaweel and his wife were reportedly praying.
Taher Al-Nono, a Hamas spokesperson, mourned Bardaweel’s death in a Facebook post, while Hamas accused Israel of orchestrating an assassination. “His blood, that of his wife and martyrs, will remain fueling the battle of liberation and independence. The criminal enemy will not break our determination and will,” the group stated.
The Israeli military has not issued an official statement on Bardaweel’s killing. However, Israeli spokesperson Avichay Adraee warned residents of the Tel Al-Sultan neighborhood in Rafah to evacuate, stating that military operations aimed to dismantle “terrorist organizations” in the area.
Explosions were reported across northern, central, and southern Gaza early Sunday, as Israeli airstrikes intensified. Palestinian health officials said at least 30 people, including three municipal employees, were killed in Rafah and Khan Younis in the latest wave of attacks.
The escalation follows Israel’s decision to end a temporary ceasefire, reigniting air and ground assaults against Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the war’s objective is to dismantle Hamas as both a military force and governing entity. He emphasized that the ongoing campaign seeks to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages.
Among those previously killed in Israeli strikes on Tuesday were Hamas’ de facto government head Essam Addalees and internal security chief Mahmoud Abu Watfa. Palestinian health officials reported that more than 400 people, including women and children, were killed that day. An Israeli airstrike also hit a residential building in Rafah, injuring several civilians.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the terms of a January ceasefire agreement by refusing to negotiate an end to the war and withdraw troops from Gaza. The group, however, stated that it remains open to discussions and is considering mediation efforts by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
The renewed violence has prompted calls for a ceasefire from Arab and European nations. Britain, France, and Germany issued a joint statement urging Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel has restricted aid deliveries, with Netanyahu’s foreign policy adviser, Ophir Falk, accusing Hamas of diverting resources for its own use—a claim Hamas has denied.
The conflict, which began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli communities that killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken, has resulted in devastating consequences. Israel’s military response has killed over 49,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and displaced hundreds of thousands, leaving them in dire humanitarian conditions.
