Israel says it killed one of Hamas' last senior officials

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A F-15 fighter jet flies during a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots at Hatzerim Airbase, in southern Israel, June 29, 2023. (REUTERS/AMIR COHEN)

(Reuters) -The Israeli military said on Friday it killed senior Hamas official Izz al-Din Kassab, describing him as one of the last high-ranking members of Hamas responsible for coordinating with other groups in the Gaza Strip, in an airstrike in Khan Younis.

The Palestinian group mourned the death of Kassab in a statement, adding that he was killed along with another Hamas official named Ayman Ayesh in an Israeli attack on their car in the enclave.

Hamas sources told Reuters that Kassab was a local group official in Gaza but not a member of its decision-making political office.

(Reporting by Enas Alashray and Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Adam Makary, Editing by William Maclean)