Israeli strike kills militant movement secretary-general in Gaza

The Mujahideen movement secretary-general, Sheikh Asaad Abu Sharia, alongside his brother Ahmed Abu Sharia, died in Gaza City due to an Israeli strike, Middle East Eye reported on June 7th.

The strike, which took place in the Sabra neighbourhood of the city killed at least 16 people, with six being children, while over 50 people suffered wounds. It has been estimated that 85 individuals remain trapped underneath rubble, as rescue units attempt to find those who survived the attack.

The death of the two men was confirmed by Hamas. Hamas said the attack was “part of a series of brutal massacres against civilians”.

According to CNN on June 7th, Israeli officials alleged that Asaad Abu Sharia directly participated in the kidnapping and killing of Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas. Shiri was the mother of Ariel and Kfir. Ariel, four, and Kfir, nine months, became some of the most identifiable victims due to their young ages.

The Israeli military reported that Sharia assisted in the kidnapping of Gad Haggai and Judi Lynn Weinstein Haggai. Attackers killed the Israeli-American couple near their residence in Kibbutz Nir Oz, during a 2023 assault. Officials also said he was involved in the abduction and murder of Thai citizen Nattapong Pinta.

The developments come amid Israel’s broader military campaign in Gaza, which has escalated in both intensity and geographic scope.

Maghrebi.org reported, as covered by Asharq Al-Awsat on May 21st, that Israeli forces surrounded  two remaining hospitals in northern Gaza. Hospital staff and aid workers said this blocked all access to and from the facilities. The move follows Israel’s intensified military push in the already ravaged and crisis-hit Palestinian territory.

Asharq Al-Awsat also reported that both hospitals and three primary clinics were within a declared evacuation zone. Israel did not formally instruct the hospitals to evacuate. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated: “Israeli military operations and evacuation orders are stretching the health system beyond the breaking point.”

Middle East Eye, CNN, Maghrebi.org, Asharq Al-Awsat