Israel confirms deaths of two senior Hamas figures
Israel confirmed the deaths of two senior Hamas figures in Gaza airstrikes on Wednesday afternoon.
An Israeli Air Force takes off for air strikes on Gaza on March 18, 2025. Photo by IDF Spokesperson/TPS-IL
he Israel Defence Forces and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) identified one terrorist killed as Yasser Muhammad Harb Musa, a close associate of Hamas leader and October 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar. According to the army and Shin Bet, Musa held the security portfolio in Hamas’s politburo and also headed the Development Ministry in the terror group’s Executive Committee.
Also eliminated was Muhammad Jamatzi, chairman of Hamas’s Emergency Movement Committee.
The strikes ended a two-month ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed terror group.
Hamas insisted on the original ceasefire terms, which called for Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent end to the war in exchange for the remaining hostages. However, Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to continue operations until Hamas is dismantled. Talks over phase two of the agreement, set to begin February 3, never took place.
Despite this, the ceasefire held for weeks as mediators sought new terms. Last week, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff proposed extending phase one of the ceasefire in exchange for the release of five hostages. However, Witkoff dismissed Hamas’s response to the proposal as unacceptable, warning of consequences if the group did not reconsider.
At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 59 remaining hostages, 36 are believed to be dead.
By Ehud Amiton/TPS-IL
