An attack in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday killed the sister of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh and her family, Hamas and a Gaza relief official said.
Hamas confirmed the death of Haniyeh’s sister, Zaher Haniyeh, in a statement. The Israeli military said they were aware of the reports but “cannot confirm at this time” that they had attacked Haniyeh’s home.
Mr. Haniyeh, who serves as chairman of Hamas’s political bureau while living in exile in Qatar, is the longtime political leader of the Hamas group that controls the Gaza Strip and was the group responsible for the deadly Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Mahmoud Basal, a spokesman for the Palestinian Civil Defence, said emergency teams had taken the bodies of Haniyeh’s sister, brother-in-law and eight children from their home in the northern Gaza neighborhood of Shati, which was destroyed in the attack.
Israeli air strikes in April Killed the three sons of Haniya The Israeli military confirmed the attack and said the sons were actively involved in Hamas’ military operations.
At the time, Mr. Haniyeh did not specify the role his sons played in the group but called them martyrs. He said 60 members of his extended family had been killed by Israel.
