In a targeted operation, the IDF and the Shin Bet successfully struck a high-ranking Hamas terrorist operating within the Nasser Hospital compound in Gaza. The strike was the culmination of an extensive intelligence-gathering effort aimed at neutralizing a significant threat while minimizing collateral damage.
According to reports emerging from Gaza, the target of the operation was Ismail Barhoum, a prominent member of Hamas’s political bureau. Barhoum was reportedly responsible for overseeing the terrorist organization’s financial operations, a critical role that funneled resources into its militant activities. His elimination marks a significant blow to Hamas’s logistical and operational capabilities.
The IDF and Shin Bet emphasized that the operation was carefully planned to address the unique circumstances of the target’s location. Hamas has long been accused of exploiting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and residential areas, to shield its operatives and plan attacks. In this instance, the use of Nasser Hospital—an active medical facility—as a base for terrorist activities has drawn sharp criticism. The IDF condemned Hamas’s actions, stating that the group “brutally endangers the Gazan population” and violates international law by embedding its operatives within civilian spaces.
Both Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic captured live footage of an Israeli airstrike hitting the Nasser Hospital while broadcasting from outside the facility in Khan Younis.
