Israel-Palestine: Drone strike targets, kills Hamas Deputy Chief

Reports have emerged indicating that Saleh Al-Arouri, Hamas’s Deputy Leader, was allegedly targeted and killed in a drone strike that hit the group’s office situated in Southern Beirut.

The situation stems from ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas, which intensified since October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants initiated attacks on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties.

Tragically, over 20,000 Palestinians have lost their lives in Gaza due to the Israeli invasion that followed.

As per Lebanon’s state media on Tuesday, January 2, the drone strike specifically targeted the Hamas office located in southern Beirut, claiming the lives of Mr. Al-Arouri and at least three others.

The 57-year-old leader had a complex history, having served multiple terms in Israeli prisons before his release in March 2010.

His freedom was secured as part of negotiations aiming for a larger prisoner exchange, notably involving Gilad Shalit, an Israel Defense Force (IDF) corporal kidnapped by Hamas in 2006.

Al-Arouri played a pivotal role in the subsequent negotiations that led to the release of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails in exchange for Shalit’s freedom in 2011.

Following his release, he relocated to Istanbul but was compelled to move again as Israel reconciled its relations with Turkey.

Before his reported demise, Al-Arouri was deeply entrenched in Hamas’s connections, notably with Iran and the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. He acted as a spokesperson for Hamas in recent weeks, particularly concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In a December interview with Al Jazeera, Al-Arouri emphatically stated that Hamas would not engage in discussions regarding a prisoner exchange with Israel until the attacks on Gaza ceased, emphasizing the readiness of the resistance movement for all military scenarios.

The United States government had previously designated him as a “global terrorist” in 2015, offering a substantial reward of five million dollars for information leading to his capture.

Responding to the reported death of the Hamas deputy leader, Israel’s former envoy to the UN, Danny Danon, posted a celebratory message, praising the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the Shin Bet, the Mossad, and security forces for their alleged involvement.

Danon expressed determination in holding accountable those involved in what he referred to as the “7/10 massacre.”