Head of Hamas military intelligence killed, says Israel

Israel has said Hamas' military intelligence chief in southern Gaza has been "eliminated".

In a post on X, Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said Osama Tabash was also head of the group's surveillance and targeting unit.

It said he was responsible for "planning and coordinating targets and infiltration objectives" during the October 2023 terror attack and was in charge of "combat strategy on the ground", reports sky news.

It did not say when or where he was killed and Hamas has not commented on the claim.

It comes as Israel's defence minister said he had ordered ground forces to advance deeper into Gaza and to hold more land in an effort to pressure Hamas to free more hostages.

"The more Hamas continues its refusal to release the kidnapped, the more territory it will lose to Israel," said Israel Katz.

Israel resumed airstrikes a few days ago after an extension to the ceasefire that had seen Israeli hostages swapped for Palestinian prisoners could not be agreed.