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On 24 March, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz officially confirmed the elimination of Ismail Barhoum, the new head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. The terrorist was killed in a precision strike on the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, where, according to intelligence, he was hiding.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) press service had earlier reported the killing of a key Hamas member, without disclosing his name. Later, Katz confirmed that it was Barhoum, the leader who on 18 March 2025 replaced Issam Diba Abdullah al-Dalis as Hamas prime minister, who was also killed by the Israeli military.
According to the Al-Aqsa TV channel and Palestinian sources, an Israeli barrage munition hit the second floor of the hospital, where Barhoum had set up his office. The information about his death was also confirmed by the Palestinian media.
Who was Ismail Barhoum?
Ismail Barhoum, also known as “Abu Muhammad”, has been a member of the Hamas political bureau since 2021. He was the head of the so-called Association of Hamas Charities, a global network of approximately 400 organisations that transferred funds to finance terrorist activities under the guise of humanitarian aid.
After becoming the head of the terrorist organisation’s government on 18 March, Barhoum chose to stay in a hospital ward in Khan Younis, hoping to protect a civilian facility. However, Israeli intelligence gathered evidence of his presence there, and the IDF carried out a precision operation.
“I congratulate the IDF and Shabak on a brilliant operation. Every terrorist who tries to hide behind hospitals, schools or mosques should know that we will find them,” said Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz.
Targeted hunt for Hamas leaders
The elimination of Barhoum was another episode of the targeted destruction of the Hamas leadership that Israel has been carrying out since October 2023. The special operations are aimed at the complete destruction of the terrorist group’s management vertical and its financial infrastructure.
Israel has repeatedly emphasised that the use of hospitals as terrorist shelters or headquarters is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, and in the event of confirmed information about such cases, the IDF acts in accordance with the norms of military necessity and accuracy.
