Hamas confirmed the killing of a senior leader of the Qassam Brigades in an Israeli attack, calling it a violation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and an ongoing aggression against civilians in the enclave. Three women and a baby were among the seven Palestinians killed in the strikes, according to medical sources and Al Jazeera. Dozens of others were wounded.

Attack Details and Casualty Figures

The Israeli strikes targeted the Remal neighborhood west of Gaza City — a strike on a civilian vehicle killed three people, and another on a building claimed four lives, medical sources said. Ibrahim Al Khalili of Al Jazeera reported that the attacks caused panic as residents fled a residential building engulfed in fire.

Hamas described the attack as reaffirming the “criminal and fascist nature” of Israel; “It demonstrates its disregard for all international laws and conventions,” the group said in a statement. The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement and its military wing, the Mujahideen Brigades, also mourned the leader, calling his death a “cowardly assassination” that would not weaken their resolve.

Broader Context and Statements

The Palestinian resistance groups noted the leader’s long history of fighting against Israel and stated that the attack would not resolve the conflict. “It will not be able to resolve the conflict, despite the war machine and annihilation it has unleashed for over two and a half years,” their joint statement said. Last December. Israel killed Raed Saad. The leader’s second-in-command, in an attack that wounded at least 25 people.

Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Hamas that it would face a “swift and firm” end if it violated the ceasefire; the warning followed reports that Hamas had carried out public executions of Gaza residents accused of collaborating with Israel. Arab mediators had warned that such actions could give Israel a pretext to resume hostilities.

U.S. and Israeli Responses

Trump initially downplayed the executions, saying Hamas had “taken care of some gang members,” but later adopted a tougher stance; he suggested that Israel could be authorized to “eradicate” Hamas if necessary. “We made a deal with Hamas that they’re going to be very good, they’re going to behave, they’re going to be nice, and if not, we’re going to eradicate them if we have to,” he said. Arab officials confirmed that Hamas had committed to halting further public executions following U.S. warnings.

Trump indicated he was holding off on such actions to give the ceasefire a chance to hold; “I could tell them, ‘Go in and take care of it.’ But right now, we haven’t said that,” he said, referring to Israel’s potential involvement.