US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan on Monday confirmed the death of top Hamas leader Marwan Issa in an airstrike conducted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) last week.
“Hamas’s number three Marwan Issa was killed in an Israeli operation last week,” news agency AFP quoted NSA Jake Sullivan as saying on the matter.
“The rest of the top leaders are in hiding, likely deep in the Hamas tunnel network, and justice will come for them too,” he added. However, Hamas has yet to confirm the killing of Issa by Israel.
Earlier on March 11, the IDF said that an airstrike on an underground compound in central Gaza on March 9-10 had targeted Issa, describing him as one of the planners of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.
According to Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, Issa was a deputy of Mohammed Deif, who heads Hamas’s armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades.
Meanwhile, on Monday, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke over the phone and discussed the prevailing situation in Gaza.
In their conversation, Biden emphasized the urgent need to significantly increase the flow of lifesaving aid reaching those in need throughout Gaza, particularly emphasizing the north.
“President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu today about the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including Israel’s military operations, increasing humanitarian assistance going to Gaza, and efforts to bring hostages home. President Biden emphasized his commitment to ensuring the long-term security of Israel and affirmed that Israel has a right to go after Hamas,” the White House said in a post on X.
“At the same time, a humanitarian crisis has descended across Gaza. More innocent civilians have died in this military operation than in all previous wars in Gaza combined,” it added.
President Biden stressed the urgent need to significantly increase the flow of lifesaving aid to those in need throughout Gaza, with particular emphasis on the north.
“…President Biden stressed the urgent need to significantly increase the flow of lifesaving aid reaching those in need throughout Gaza, with special emphasis on the north…,” it said.
