Israel-Gaza updates: Hamas military chief target of strike that killed 90 people
Mohammed Deif has been the head of Hamas' military wing.
As the Israel-Hamas war continues, efforts to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization are ongoing, and Israeli forces have launched an assault in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
Latest headlines:
- Israel says it was targeting Hamas military chief in strike
- Israel admits area hit in Khan Younis was part of expanded humanitarian zone
- Unclear if JLOTS pier can be reattached to get final aid shipments into Gaza, Pentagon says
- 'Progress' made in cease-fire talks, national security adviser says
- IDF didn't enter Kibbutz Be'eri for nearly 7 hours, report finds
IDF gives more details on strike on school
Israel Defense Forces released details about a strike on a school in Nuseirat refugee camp that Gaza officials said killed 16 and wounded at least 50.
The IDF claimed its intelligence found that the site allegedly "served as a hideout and operational infrastructure from which attacks against IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip were directed and carried out."
"Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken in order to mitigate the risk of harming civilians, including the use of precise aerial surveillance and additional intelligence," the IDF said without disclosing what steps were taken.
-ABC News' Dorit Long
IDF admits it'll be fighting Hamas insurgency in Gaza for 5 years
Israel is planning for a long insurgency against Hamas, saying it expects Hamas to still exist in five years, but it said the group is no longer capable of perpetrating an Oct. 7-style attack.
"Will you and me be talking five years from now about Hamas as a terror organization in Gaza? The answer is yes," Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari told ABC News.
Hagari is the first Israeli official to publicly admit that the insurgency will be long and difficult, in stark contrast to the bombast of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who continues to vow the quick destruction of Hamas.
Gaza, and even to some degree Hezbollah, are "perpetual wars" distracting Israel from what he called their main enemy, Iran, a senior Israeli official told ABC News.
-ABC News' Matt Gutman