STORY: Israeli army confirms killing of senior Hamas commander in Gaza
SHOOTING TIME: June 20, 2024
DATELINE: June 21, 2024
LENGTH: 0:01:33
LOCATION: Jerusalem
CATEGORY: MILITARY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Israeli troops near the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel
2. various of smoke after Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip

STORYLINE:

The Israeli army confirmed on Thursday the killing of a Hamas commander in an airstrike in the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern Gaza Strip.
   
Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said in a press statement that Ahmed Al-Sawarka, who led sniper operations in the Beit Hanoun area and played a role in "terrorist" acts against Israeli forces, was killed by a military aircraft.
   
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Thursday that IDF troops are continuing to operate in the central Gaza Strip and the southern Rafah area.
   
The health authorities in Gaza said in a press statement that as of Thursday, the Palestinian death toll from Israeli military operations has risen to 37,431 people, with 85,653 others wounded.
   
Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jerusalem.
(XHTV)