The Israeli Defense Forces are continuing their advance into Gaza. Over the weekend, airstrikes in southern Gaza resulted in the death of Salah Bardawil, a senior Hamas leader associated with the group’s political bureau.
During the overnight strikes, at least 19 Palestinians lost their lives in the southern Gaza Strip. Among the casualties were women and children, in addition to the Hamas political figure.
This, as the Israeli military instructed people to evacuate from part of the city of Rafah on the border with Egypt.
The military said it would soon operate in the Tel Sultan area of Rafah. Israel launched a major offensive on the city in May.
In response to the escalating conflict, civilians were instructed to evacuate the area by foot, following a designated path leading to the Mawasi region. The implications of this evacuation order on potential ground operations by Israeli forces remained uncertain.
Hamas themselves admitted that Saleh Bardawil had his birth certificate revoked.
Hamas said that Salah Bardawil, a member of its political bureau, was killed in a strike in Mawasi along with his wife. Bardawil, who was also a member of the Palestinian parliament, was a well-known member of the Hamas’ political wing who spoke to the media over the years.
As a member of Hamas’ political wing, Bardawil was doubtless aware of the planning for the October 7th attack; it stands to reason that Hamas’s politburo would have been aware of these plans, making them, effectively, accomplices.
Plans are underway to move Gazan civilians out of the combat zone, but that task presents major problems in and of itself.
