Israel Kills Top Hamas Naval Commander in Gaza Strike Amid Ongoing Ceasefire Talks

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday announced the killing of Ramzi Ramadan Abd Ali Saleh, a top naval commander of Hamas, in a targeted strike in northern Gaza. According to Israeli officials, Saleh played a key role in the militant group's operations and had recently been involved in planning maritime attacks against Israeli troops.

Alongside Saleh, the IDF also confirmed the deaths of Hisham Ayman Atiya Mansour, deputy head of Hamas' mortar shell unit, and Nissim Muhammad Suleiman Abu Sabha, another member of the unit. The strike reportedly took place at a café and resulted in the deaths of 24 people, according to sources linked to the Gaza-based authorities.

The development comes as an Israeli delegation travels to Qatar for fresh negotiations aimed at reaching a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. Pressure has been mounting on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war and agree to a permanent truce.

Last week, Hamas claimed it had responded “positively” to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. The proposal includes a 60-day truce and the release of remaining hostages. U.S. President Joe Biden had said that Israel had accepted the “necessary conditions” to finalize the agreement. However, Netanyahu’s office later stated that Hamas’ requested changes to the deal were "not acceptable to Israel."

The ongoing war was sparked by Hamas' surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. Nine months later, 49 hostages remain in Gaza, but only 20 are believed to still be alive.

Israel’s military response has led to devastating consequences for Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict. The war has also displaced over half of the territory’s population, created a deepening hunger crisis, and caused widespread destruction.