A report has revealed that Hamas spent seven years hacking security cameras to gather intelligence before launching its coordinated attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The Palestinian group, designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., Israel, and numerous other countries, killed at least 1,200 people—primarily civilians—and abducted 251 during the assault from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel. In immediate retaliation, Israel launched an intense military campaign against the coastal enclave, eliminating dozens of Hamas commanders and hundreds of its fighters. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to ensure no senior Hamas leader escapes justice, a pledge reinforced by the reported killing of Sinwar.
Sinwar, 61, was the head of Hamas’ military wing for years and became its overall leader in August after the death of the organization’s political bureau chief, Ismail Haniyeh, during a visit to Iran. He was considered a ruthless militant commander with close ties to Hamas’ biggest benefactor, the Iranian regime.
He has been accused of orchestrating the October 7 terror attack that drew sharp condemnation from the United Nations and many world leaders, including the U.S. He has a reputation for ruthless, pragmatic violence that aims to achieve Hamas’ goals in the most efficient way possible. His murder is a blow to the Gaza leadership and is expected to complicate negotiations for a truce between Hamas and Israel.
The deadly attacks shook Israel, drawing sharp criticism from human rights groups and the U.S., which has warned of a “catastrophe” that could threaten the lives of thousands of civilians. The attack on Israeli targets also reminded many of a 1973 Mideast war practically 50 years to the day, when Egypt and Syria launched an assault against Israel in an attempt to take back Israeli-occupied territory.
MSF has called on countries around the world to impose an immediate ceasefire on Gaza, to uphold the principles of the Geneva Conventions, and to ensure that displaced families can return to their homes and receive essential services. It is unimaginable that the population of Gaza must endure “non-stop bombing and a suffocating siege,” Turk said.
During the early hours of Saturday, Israeli airstrikes struck two apartment buildings in Gaza City, reducing them to rubble. Earlier, a loudspeaker atop a mosque blared a warning for residents in nearby buildings to evacuate immediately. Minutes later, an airstrike flattened one of the buildings in giant explosions.
Israeli forces also “stormed” the Kamal Adwan hospital, according to the Gaza health ministry. Hundreds of patients, medical staff, and displaced residents had been confined inside the building for several days. The ministry’s director, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, has not been seen since Friday. The hospital is located in a densely populated area near the border fence with Israel, where armed Israeli forces are stationed.
