Israel says it killed Hamas finance chief in Gaza strike amid ceasefire tensions
Israel's military and security agencies announced on Thursday that they had killed Muhammad Abu Alwan, head of Hamas's finance department, in an air strike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. According to the Israeli military, Abu Alwan had directed over one billion shekels in funds for Hamas activities and had recently been working to rebuild the group's capabilities in violation of the ceasefire.
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The Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency announced on Thursday that they had killed Muhammad Abu Alwan, described as the head of Hamas's finance department, in an air strike in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced the killing before it was confirmed by the military.
According to the IDF, Abu Alwan had worked in Hamas's finance operations for roughly a decade and was responsible for budgeting across the organisation's branches. During the war, he had directed the transfer of more than one billion shekels (about $270 million) to fund Hamas activities. The military stated that he had recently been working to restore the group's capabilities in what Israel characterised as a systematic violation of the ceasefire.
The IDF said the strike was carried out from the air after steps were taken to reduce the risk to civilians, including aerial surveillance and the use of precision munitions. Israeli forces under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operations against networks of money changers and facilitators moving funds for Hamas.
The strike represents the latest in a series of Israeli actions targeting Hamas figures despite the ceasefire, and underscores continuing friction over the accord's implementation in Gaza.
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