Israeli strikes kill two senior Hamas officials

Israeli military strikes have killed two senior Hamas officials, Israeli Defense Forces said. 

IDF airstrikes killed Joad Abu Shmalah, the Hamas Minister of Economy in the Gaza Strip, and Zachariah Abu Ma'amar, a senior member of the Hamas' political bureau and head of its office for internal relations.

"Overnight, an IDF aircraft struck Joad Abu Shmalah, the Hamas Minister of Economy in the Gaza Strip. As part of his role, he managed the funding of terrorism inside and outside the Gaza Strip. He held security positions in the terrorist organization and led a number of operations targeting Israeli civilians and the State of Israel," IDF said. 

"Overnight, an IDF aircraft struck Zachariah Abu Ma'amar, a senior member of the Hamas terrorist organization's political bureau and head of its office for internal relations. He was a senior Hamas decision-maker and coordinator between terror groups in the Gaza Strip," officials said in a separate statement. 

"Abu Ma'amar was part of Hamas’ senior forum, involved in the organization's decision-making and the planning of numerous terror activities against the State of Israel," officials said. "Abu Ma'amar was known as a confidant to Yahya Sinwar, incited against Israel and acted to endanger Israeli civilians."