Israel’s strikes have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, including Hamas officials [Getty/file photo]
The official spokesperson for Hamas was killed by an Israeli airstrike early on Thursday, following an attack on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Abdel-Latif al-Qanou’s death was confirmed by the Palestinian movement in a statement via Telegram, who called him an “example of steadfastness and dedication in serving his people and their cause”.
The group added that the Israeli strike was direct, implying that he was deliberately targeted.
“The occupation’s targeting of the movement’s leaders and spokespeople will not break our will; rather, it will only increase our determination to continue on the path until the liberation of the land and the holy sites. The blood of the martyrs will remain the fuel and inspiration for the resistance until victory,” their statement continued.
Al-Qanou regularly delivered updates about ceasefire talks between Hamas, Israel and mediators.Â
On Tuesday, he spoke to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, the Arabic-language publication of The New Arab, stating that discussions with Egypt and Qatar were still ongoing.
He stressed that the group remained “open to discussing new ideas”, provided Israel was guaranteed to fully commit to the terms of the ceasefire agreement.
Last week, al-Qanou dismissed US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff’s claim that Hamas insisted on governing post-war Gaza and stressed that the Palestinian group was “open to any arrangements” concerning the enclave’s post-war governance.
Born in 1981 in Jabalia, al-Qanou joined Hamas’ ranks during the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000, while still in high school.
Following his graduation from university, al-Qanou worked across Hamas’ media offices in the enclave for almost a decade, before becoming the group’s official spokesperson in 2016.
His death comes as Israel continues to bomb several parts of the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing a family of six, amid a renewed offensive on the Palestinian territory.
Protests in Gaza against Israel war, Hamas governance
Palestinian protesters took to the streets in some parts of northern Gaza for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, urging an end to the war and calling for Hamas to relinquish governance of the enclave. Demonstrations took place in the Jabalia and Beit Lahia refugee camps, as well as Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighbouhood.
This comes as a rare demonstration broke out in Gaza on Tuesday, according to social media videos spread online, which were verified by Reuters.
Wednesday’s demonstrations appeared more organised, with many chanting slogans and holding banners. Some of them read: “The blood of our children is not cheap, yes to stopping the war.”
Palestinians are exhausted by nearly 16 months of war, having been subject to Israeli bombings on a daily basis, the death of loved ones, constant displacement, and a severe lack of food and basic needs.
Hopes for a more permanent ceasefire are wearing thin, as Israel continues to rule out moving into the second phase of the truce. Hamas, despite expressing openness to reduce their governance in the enclave, has been unable to reach an agreement alongside mediators.
Fears, however, have risen that Israel could exploit Palestinian discontent, and use it to justify their war on Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said “the demonstrations show that our policy has worked” during a recent debate.
The official Israel account on X also seemed to “support” the demonstrations. “For the first time in years, Gazans ae rising up against Hamas – chanting Hamas out,” the post read.
Israel Katz, the foreign minister, posted a video on X on Wednesday, saying: “Hamas is putting your lives at risk, causing you to lose homes,” adding that the Israeli army will “soon operate with full force in additional areas of Gaza”.
Egypt ceasefire proposal to ‘free five captives in one day’
Egyptian officials have reportedly put forward a proposal aimed at ending renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip, which would entail the release of five living captives during the first say of a new truce. Five living hostages would also be released every seven to 10 days, two foreign diplomats disclosed to The Times of Israel on Wednesday.
The Israeli forces would retreat to the buffer zone inside the border with Gaza and station themselves along the Philadelphi Corridor, as they did during the first phase, and negotiations could take place to withdraw them from the area completely, the report added.
Israel forces stationed themselves along the buffer zone which borders Egypt following a offensive in Rafah in May 2024, and have refused to leave the area despite Cairo’s demands.
The proposal also includes discussions for phase two of the ceasefire, which Israel has constantly rejected despite initial agreements when the first part of the ceasefire was agreed upon.
Mid-level Israeli negotiating teams have made multiple trips to Cairo over the past two weeks to discuss the proposal, The Times of Israel said, citing one of the diplomats.
