Israeli army says it killed senior Hamas leader

JERUSALEM (AA) - The Israeli army on Saturday claimed that it had killed a senior Hamas leader who it said led the surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

“Ali Qadi led the inhumane, barbaric October 7 massacre of civilians in Israel,” the Israeli army said in a statement.

There was no comment from the Palestinian side yet on the claim.

The Israeli army also shared footage of the airstrike in which Qadi was said to be killed.

Israeli media also reported that during the Oct. 7 attack, the Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, destroyed an Israeli military helicopter near the Gaza Strip.

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, a week ago Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began last Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

Over 3,500 people have been killed since the outbreak of the conflict on Oct. 7, including 2,215 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi