Hamas commander, who held 1,000 as hostages in Gaza hospital, killed in Israeli airstrike, claims IDF

Siam, identified as a commander in Hamas's Naser Radwan Company, was killed in an airstrike conducted by Israel, according to IDF.

In a tweet on X, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also alleged that Siam employed civilians as human shields in terrorist activities.

While expanding its ground operations against Hamas in Gaza last month, Israeli forces have eliminated several Hamas operatives linked to the October 7 attacks, during which the Palestinian group launched an unprecedented assault on Israel.

Palestinian militant group killed 1,200 people in its surprise assault, while over 10,000 lives have been lost in Gaza in the counter-offensive by Israel.

Earlier this month, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant urged the residents of the Palestinian enclave to identify and eliminate Hamas's Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar, stating that doing so "would shorten the war."

"We will get to (Hamas Gaza chief) Yahya Sinwar and eliminate him. If the residents of Gaza get there ahead of us, that will shorten the war," he said, adding, "Hamas has no limits".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his military cabinet have dismissed appeals for a ceasefire, even as the global community expresses concerns over the repercussions of the ongoing fighting and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.