Senior Hamas commander killed in Israeli airstrike on central Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Jan 8 — A senior Hamas commander and six others, including a teenager, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on central Gaza on Thursday, amid ongoing ceasefire tensions.

The strikes hit Deir al-Balah, killing local commander Mohammed Al-Holy, according to a Hamas source.

Hamas condemned the strikes in a statement, accusing Israel of violating the ceasefire.

Health officials said the six other fatalities included a 16-year-old.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.

Israel and Hamas continue to trade blame for violations of the truce that took effect in October.

More than 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been reported killed since the ceasefire began.

Israel launched its operations in Gaza following an attack by Hamas-led fighters in October 2023 that killed 1,200 people.

Israel's assault has killed 71,000 people, according to health authorities in Gaza, and left much of the territory in ruins.