At least four Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian health officials said, as Israel said one of the attacks killed a senior Hamas finance official.
Medics said two of the victims, Osama Abu Khater and Mohammad Abu Elwan, were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle in western Khan Younis, in southern Gaza.
Two other people were wounded in the attack, according to the medics.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a joint statement that Abu Elwan was a senior Hamas finance official.
“We will not allow Hamas to rebuild its strength, and we will not stop until Hamas no longer exists in Gaza,” they said.
Hamas had not immediately commented on the Israeli claim.
Later on Wednesday, Palestinian health officials said two more people were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City and Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza, bringing the reported death toll from Wednesday’s strikes to at least four.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the two later strikes.
Palestinian authorities say more than 73,000 people have been killed in Israel’s military assault on Gaza, which began after Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people.
A US-brokered ceasefire agreed last year provides for the eventual reconstruction of Gaza, but negotiations have made little progress.
The talks have remained stalled over disagreements on Hamas disarming and Israel withdrawing its troops from the territory, while Israeli airstrikes have continued.
Gaza health officials say at least 1,400 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed in the territory since the ceasefire took effect.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, says four of its soldiers have been killed during the same period.
Israel and Hamas have continued to accuse each other of violating the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
