Israel says senior Hamas operative captured amid Gaza strikes that killed civilians

Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, said a senior Hamas official was taken into custody after a joint operation by Israeli special forces and an Israel-backed Palestinian militia in Gaza City. The minister did not identify the detainee but said the capture reflects Israel's policy of proactively targeting Hamas operatives.

During the same period, Israeli air strikes hit Gaza, killing two children and a woman, according to local medical sources, with a third child killed in a separate incident in central Gaza. The strikes were described by the Israeli military as actions to eliminate threats to its troops.

A Palestinian security source told the BBC the operation aimed at a senior member of Hamas's internal security service. Hamas-run media spokesman Ismail al-Thawabta said an Israeli special-forces unit attempted a security operation in Gaza City but was exposed, leading to casualties among the unit and civilian deaths.

The incident follows the broader conflict that began after Hamas attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in significant casualties and hostages.