Sun Mar 23 03:37:00 UTC 2025: ## Hamas Leader Killed in Israeli Airstrike as Gaza Conflict Escalates
**GAZA CITY, PALESTINE** – A senior Hamas political leader, Salah al-Bardaweel, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Sunday, according to Hamas officials. The airstrike, which also reportedly killed Bardaweel’s wife, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing Israeli military campaign that began on Tuesday after a brief lull.
Witnesses reported a surge in Israeli air strikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, targeting areas in the north, center, and south. Hamas accused Israel of assassinating Bardaweel while he was praying, describing the action as a war crime. The group vowed to continue its fight for liberation.
This renewed offensive follows two months of relative calm, which ended when Israel launched a major air and ground operation. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has stated the goal is to destroy Hamas as a military and governing entity and secure the release of hostages taken during Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israeli communities. That attack resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 Israelis and the abduction of 251 hostages.
The current conflict has already claimed the lives of at least 49,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health authorities, with over half being women and children. The infrastructure of Gaza has been severely damaged, leaving hundreds of thousands displaced and reliant on makeshift shelters.
International calls for a ceasefire are mounting, with Britain, France, and Germany issuing a joint statement urging Israel to restore access to humanitarian aid. Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza, a move condemned by international observers. Hamas, while claiming willingness to negotiate, accuses Israel of violating a January ceasefire agreement. The situation remains volatile, with the death toll continuing to rise and the prospect of a swift resolution seemingly remote.
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