Hamas Economy Minister Killed In Israeli Strike As Secret Negotiations Continue Over Hostages

Two senior Hamas officials including the group’s economy minister have been killed in air strikes in Gaza, the Israeli military has said.

The death of the two came as death figures from the Saturday attack on Israel surpassed 1,000 and the fatalities in the Gaza Strip from Israeli air strikes crossed 800.

Zakaria Abu Muammar and Jawad Abu Shamal, members of the Hamas political bureau, died after a raid in Khan Yunis early this morning, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) say.

An IDF spokesman says Shamal was Hamas’s economy minister, and was involving in the “funding of terrorism inside and outside the Gaza Strip” as well as leading operations targeting Israeli citizens.

Muammar was the head of Hamas’s international relations office, and was involved in the planning of “numerous terrorist activities”, the IDF alleges.

Hamas has not confirmed the two men’s deaths, and the BBC has not been able to independently verify the Israeli claims.

Meanwhile, besides the news of the Hamas economy minister that was killed, diplomatic efforts are said to be intensifying to try to free some of the more than 100 hostages reportedly being held by Hamas.

The focus appears to be on a swap involving women and children – including Israelis and other nationals – in an exchange for Palestinian women and children in Israeli jails.

A diplomat briefed on the talks told the BBC that discussions were under way involving mediation by the Gulf state of Qatar, where some of Hamas’s political leaders are based.

The US was described as co-ordinating the process. It doesn’t include the Islamic Jihad group (PIJ) which has reportedly seized about 30 hostages.

Both Israel and Hamas have publicly denied any hostage negotiations are taking place. But a diplomatic source said the talks were gathering pace.

It’s unfolding in a highly fluid situation fraught with risk. One source said he was hopeful but admitted neither side was ready for mediation on any of the wider issues as this war worsens.

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