The head of Hamas' Legislative Council, Dr. Ahmed Bahar, was killed Friday during an IDF strike in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian sources reported. He reportedly died of his wounds and several members of his family were injured in the attack.
Hamas' "parliament chairman" was part of Hamas' political leadership. However, he was not a member of the 20-member Gaza Political Bureau, headed by Yahya Sinwar, a kind of "Gaza government." In the past, he threatened that "the hand of the resistance is long and will reach anyone who tries to disarm it." His assassination comes after Golani fighters occupied the parliament building in Gaza this week, after which IDF forces blew it up.
Assassination of a commander in Hamas' military-terrorist wing and a commander in the "rapid response battalion" in Tulkarem // Arab networks
So far, four members of Gaza's political bureau have certainly been killed. According to the IDF and various reports, it is highly likely that three other members of the bureau were killed (Ruhi Mushtaha, Issam Da'alis – shadow prime minister, and Samah Sarraj). All three are considered close to Sinwar. An underground compound where they were staying was attacked from the air and destroyed.
In the military wing, the brigade commander of the central camps, Ayman Nofal, was eliminated. The IDF confirmed that the commander of the northern Gaza Strip, Ahmad Ghandour, and Ayman Siyam (head of the rocket array), were in an underground compound that was attacked and sustained significant damage. They were likely killed, but Hamas does not publish information about it.
Members of Hamas-Gaza's political bureau who have been assassinated so far: Shura Council Chairman Osama al-Muzini (right), "Economy Minister" Jawad Abu Shammala, Jamila Al-Shanti and Abu Ahmad Zakariya, photo: Arab networks
At the top of the list of assassinations in the military wing currently are: Muhammad Deif and Marwan Issa – heads of the force; and three brigade commanders: Izz a-Din al-Haddad (Gaza City), Muhammad Sinwar (Khan Yunis) and Muhammad Shabanah (Rafah).
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