# Three Killed in Israeli Strikes on Gaza Amid Operation to Seize Hamas Leader

*Heavy Israeli bombardment in Gaza City has resulted in the deaths of three people, including two children and a woman, as part of an operation to capture a senior Hamas figure.*

September 1, 2026 · World

In the early hours of Tuesday, Gaza City was rocked by a series of Israeli airstrikes, resulting in the deaths of three individuals, including two children and a woman. Palestinian health officials confirmed the casualties, which occurred during what both sides described as an Israeli-backed ground operation aimed at apprehending a high-ranking Hamas member. The operation unfolded in the western part of Gaza City, where eyewitnesses reported around a dozen strikes.

The Gaza Civil Defence, operating under Hamas authority, reported that eight people were wounded in the strikes. Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City received the bodies and the wounded for treatment. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced the arrest of a senior Hamas figure, though he did not provide the individual's name or further details. Katz stated, 'We do not wait for threats, but hunt down Hamas terrorists, thwart them, and destroy their terror infrastructure.'

Contrary to the Israeli account, security sources in Gaza claimed that the Israeli mission to capture the Hamas figure was thwarted. An anonymous source told AFP that Israeli special forces withdrew 'on motorcycles under Israeli cover' after their operation was exposed. Ismail al-Thawabta, head of Hamas's media office in Gaza, corroborated this account, stating that the Israeli special forces operation was 'exposed during the mission', leading to heavy airstrikes in the area.

The Israeli military confirmed strikes on 'several targets in the Gaza Strip in order to remove threats to the security forces' but did not specify the location or provide further details. The military also reported no injuries among its troops during the operation. Meanwhile, in the central Gaza Strip, Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah reported that Israeli fire killed two additional people, including a girl.

Despite a US-backed ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, violence in the Gaza Strip has persisted. The Palestinian health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority, reports that at least 1,318 people have been killed in Israeli operations since the ceasefire began. The Israeli army has reported five deaths among its ranks and the death of one civilian contractor during the same period. The ongoing conflict continues to exact a heavy toll on civilians, with both sides accusing each other of targeting non-combatants.

## Sources

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Source: https://pulsetoday.com.bd/en/world/israeli-strikes-gaza-kill-three-hamas-operation