The Israeli military reported on Sunday that it conducted an airstrike in the Khan Younis region of the Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of Saqr Nabil Musa Qaisi. Officials identified Qaisi as both a member of Hamas’s elite Nukhba force and the head of the Turkish humanitarian organization, Deniz Feneri. According to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the organization served as a front, alleging that Qaisi used his position to maintain communication between Hamas leadership and certain Turkish officials while employing various militants under the guise of humanitarian work.

Prior to the military’s statement, Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al Balah had confirmed Qaisi’s death following an attack on his vehicle. The military has not provided specific evidence to support its claims regarding his dual role but categorized the situation as a misuse of the humanitarian sector. This incident comes amidst an ongoing and intense military campaign that has left much of the Gaza Strip devastated. Local health authorities report that the death toll has surged past 74,200 since the start of the conflict, following the initial October 7th Hamas-led attack that resulted in over 1,200 casualties in Israel.