Local health officials said the strike killed Osama Abu Khater and Mohammad Abu Elwan, and wounded two other people, after an Israeli missile hit their vehicle in the southern Gaza city.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement confirming that the target was Mohammad Abu Elwan, whom they described as a senior Hamas finance chief, and reiterated Israel’s commitment to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its strength in Gaza.
The deaths come amid a protracted conflict that began after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel in October 2023, prompting a large‑scale Israeli assault on Gaza that Palestinian authorities say has killed more than 73,000 people.
A U.S.-brokered ceasefire, agreed last year, called for the eventual reconstruction of Gaza, but negotiations have stalled over demands for Hamas disarmament and Israeli troop withdrawal. Since the ceasefire took effect, Gaza’s health ministry reports at least 1,400 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, while the Israeli military says four of its soldiers have been killed.
Both sides continue to trade accusations over violations of the ceasefire, and Israeli airstrikes have persisted despite the fragile truce, underscoring the volatile security situation in the enclave.