The Hamas Movement has confirmed the death of senior political bureau member Ismail Barhoum, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis on Sunday.

The attack, which also claimed the life of a child, struck the hospital's surgery department, where Barhoum was receiving treatment for wounds sustained in an earlier strike.

In an official statement released Sunday evening, Hamas mourned Barhoum’s death and condemned what it called a "new crime" by the Israeli occupation. "This latest crime adds to the occupation’s long record of terrorism, violating sanctities, lives, and medical facilities," the statement read. The group accused Israel of "systematic killing" targeting both civilians and leadership, and of blatant disregard for international laws and conventions.

Footage circulated on social media showed flames engulfing the third floor of the hospital following the strike.

The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed the details of the incident and reiterated the hospital’s civilian status. Nasser Hospital has been one of the last partially functioning medical centers in the war-torn southern region of the Gaza Strip.

The airstrike comes amid a renewed Israeli military campaign that began Tuesday, effectively ending a period of relative calm and ceasefire. Since then, residents across Gaza have reported intensified bombardments and ground operations, forcing tens of thousands to flee once again.

The killing of Barhoum marks a significant escalation in the Israeli military’s campaign, as it continues to target figures within the Hamas leadership alongside its wider operations across the Gaza Strip. (ILKHA)