Israeli airstrike 'kills at least ten' family members of Hamas chief's

At least ten family members of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh have been killed in an Israeli airtstrike including his sister, according to officials in Gaza. The strike hit the Haniyeh family home in Al-Shati refugee camp, in the northern Gaza Strip, said Mahmud Basal, a spokesman for the civil defence agency said.

Pictures show how the building was reduced to rubble, with rescuers working at the scene. The victims were extracted and taken to the local hospital, where white body bags were laid out on the ground and distraught mourners seen gathering.

The attack came just weeks after Haniyeh lost three sons and four grandchildren in an Israeli airstrike on their car nearby. Before their deaths, Haniyeh was believed to have had 13 sons and daughters. The Qatar-based Hamas leader said at the time said that about 60 members of his family had been killed since the war with Israel broke out on October 7.

The Gaza civil defence agency confirmed today's attack had killed ten of the political bureau chief's relatives, including his sister Zahr Haniyeh. He said a number of bodies were likely still under the rubble but 'we do not have the necessary equipment' to extract them.

Civil defence crews transferred the bodies to Al-Ahli hospital in nearby Gaza City, Basal added, also reporting 'several wounded' in the attack. The Israeli military said it 'was aware of the reports but we cannot confirm' them.

Haniyeh previously appeared calm when he was told news of the deaths of his three sons, Hazem, Mohammed and Amir, along with their children. The family members were killed in a strike which near the al-Shati refugee camp.

Israel claimed Mohammed and Hazem were Hamas military operatives, while Amir was a cell commander. Their father, 61, later confirmed the news to Al Jazeera, telling the broadcaster: 'I am grateful to God for the honor he has given me in the deaths of three of my children and a few of my grandchildren.' 'My sons were awarded this honor. They remained with our Palestinian people in Gaza, did not leave and did not run,' he said, adding: 'The blood of my sons is not dearer than the blood of our people.'

The terror leader hit out at Israel, stating they were 'driven by the spirit of revenge' and claimed around 60 members of his family had been killed since the start of the war.

Hamas's unprecedented attack on southern Israel which on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,195 people, mostly civilians, according to a tally based on official Israeli figures.

Israel's blistering air, land and sea campaign since then has killed at least 37,626 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry.

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