At least 71 people were killed in an Israeli attack that targeted the Hamas military chief in the southern city of Khan Younis on Saturday. According to the health ministry, around 280 people were injured in the attack.
Israeli officials confirmed that the target of the attack was Mohammed Deif, head of the Hamas' military wing. According to sources, Rafa Salama, another top Hamas official was also targeted in the strike. However, it is unknown if the two targets were killed.
Those injured were taken to the nearby Nasser Hospital.
It is still unclear if the strike took place in the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone, Muwasi, where hundreds of displaced Palestinians are sheltered in makeshift tents amid the intensified attacks.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 38,000 people in Gaza have been killed and more than 88,000 have been injured so far in the Israel-Hamas war.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the Israeli leader will hold security talks throughout the day after the latest Israeli strike.
Who is Mohammed Deif?
Deif, the head of the Hamas' military wing the al-Qassam Brigades, is believed to be one of the masterminds behind the October 7 Hamas attack. He is known to the Palestinians as The Mastermind.
He was imprisoned by Israeli authorities in 1989, after which he formed the al-Qassam Brigades with the aim of capturing Israeli soldiers.
The tunnels that allowed Hamas personnel to access Israel from Gaza is believed to be Deif's idea.
Deif is one of Israel's most-wanted men. He is accused of planning and supervising bus bombings which killed tens of Israelis in 1996.
He was imprisoned in 2000 by Israel, but he escaped at the beginning of the second Palestinian uprising. Since then no one is sure of his whereabouts. He had also escaped several assassination attempts as well. In 2002, a serious assassination attempt on his life was survived by him. The Israeli authorities had killed his wife and two children in the 2014 assault.
