The Israeli military announced Thursday that it had “eliminated” Rawhi Mushtaha, the head of the Hamas government in Gaza, along with two senior security officials, during airstrikes carried out three months ago.
The military said the strike killed Rawhi Mushtaha and Sameh al-Siraj, who held the security portfolio for Hamas’s political bureau, and Sami Oudeh, a commander.
According to an Israeli military statement, the strike targeted an underground compound in northern Gaza, which served as a command and control centre.
“Mushtaha was one of Hamas’ most senior operatives and had a direct impact on decisions relating to Hamas’ force deployment,” said the military in a statement.
The military called Mushtaha the “right-hand man” to Hamas’s top leader Yahya Sinwar.
In 2015, the US State Department had designated Mushtaha as a “specially designated global terrorist”.
The European Council on Foreign Relations described Mushtaha as a member of Hamas’s Gaza politburo who also oversaw its financial affairs.
