Abdullah Hamad, son of veteran Hamas official Ghazi Hamad, was among a group of resistance fighters besieged in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where he was reportedly killed.

Sources in Gaza say the fighters, including Abdullah Hamad, had been cornered in a neighbourhood of Rafah during heavy clashes and sustained bombardment by Israeli occupation forces. Hamad’s death was confirmed on Saturday, when his body was transferred to hospital. Local press indicates that the area — already suffering under blockade, siege, and repeated airstrikes — came under intense assault as Israeli forces advance into remaining pockets of resistance.

According to the same reports, the strike that killed Hamad was an aerial attack. Witnesses described heavy bombing followed by ground incursions. Civil‑defence teams were reportedly unable to safely recover all bodies immediately due to ongoing hostilities, raising fears that the final death toll may rise further.

The killing of Abdullah Hamad has triggered waves of grief and anger across Gaza. Families of victims crowded around Nasır Hospital in Rafah, demanding an end to what they describe as indiscriminate targeting of resistance fighters and civilians alike. Community leaders called on Arab and Muslim states to mount an “urgent, unified response” to stop the onslaught and secure the safety of remaining Gazans.

International observers note that this event comes amid repeated violations of the fragile ceasefire agreement, which Gaza officials claim Israel has routinely broken by continuing its bombing and incursions. According to health sources in Gaza, yesterday’s strikes resulted in dozens of casualties, including children, even before the news of Hamad’s death emerged.

In a statement released after news of his death, Hamas condemned the killing of Abdullah Hamad, describing it as yet another example of what it calls Israel’s “policy of collective punishment and war crimes.” The group vowed that his sacrifice would strengthen the resolve of Gaza’s resistance factions to continue fighting until a full withdrawal and recognition of Palestinian rights.

As cries for justice echo across Rafah, residents say that life under bombardment has become unbearable. Humanitarian agencies warn that with winter approaching and supply routes blocked, the civilian population faces mounting danger — even as Israel intensifies its military campaign deep into southern Gaza. (ILKHA)