Israel Defense Forces announces elimination of Hamas political bureau chief

In a significant blow to Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the death of Izz al-Din Kassab, the head of national relations in Hamas’ political bureau.

According to the IDF, Kassab played a key role in monitoring relations between Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza, as well as directing strategic and military relations with other factions in the region. It also said Kassab was one of the last high-ranking members of Hamas’ political bureau left alive in the Gaza Strip.

Sharing a post on Twitter, the Israel Defense Forces wrote, “Finished: Izzy al-Din Kassab, head of national relations in Hamas’ political bureau. Kassab was a member of Hamas’s political bureau and was responsible for national relations within the organization, overseeing coordination and relations between Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza.

The IDF further stated that Kassab was responsible for Hamas’s military relations with other branches in Gaza. “Additionally, Kassab was responsible for the organization’s strategic and military relations with other factions in Gaza. he/she had the authority to direct the carrying out of terrorist attacks against the State of Israel,” the post added.

Notably, the development comes amid heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah, with Hezbollah firing more than 4,400 shells toward Israel in the past month.

The IDF said Friday that Hezbollah had fired more than 4,400 shells toward Israel last month. The IDF also said they detected more than 3,000 explosive devices in the past month, and found and destroyed 2,500 anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).

The IDF further stated that they have killed more than 1,500 militants since the beginning of the war. In a post on Twitter, the IDF posted a “1-month recap of limited, local and targeted IDF operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.”

The IDF previously said they found a statue of Adolf Hitler and Nazi symbols in a civilian home in Lebanon.

The IDF claimed that Hezbollah’s goal was always to destroy Israel.

“It is no coincidence that these were found in civilian homes exploited by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. “Hezbollah’s goal has always been the same: to destroy Israel,” the post reads.