Head of Hamas’ military intelligence Osama Tabash killed in southern Gaza: Israel

he head of Hamas' military intelligence was killed in southern Gaza on Thursday, the Israeli military said on Friday. The military named the Hamas leader as Osama Tabash, reported Reuters quoting a statement

The Israeli military said said Tabash was also the head of the militant group's surveillance and targeting unit.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

On Friday, the United States informed the UN Security Council that the Palestinian militant group Hamas was responsible for the fatalities in the Gaza Strip following the resumption of hostilities by Israel.

"Hamas bears full responsibility for the ongoing war in Gaza and for the resumption of hostilities. Every death would have been avoided had Hamas accepted the bridge proposal that the United States offered last Wednesday," acting US Ambassador to the UN Dorothy Shea told the 15-member council.

Israel ended a two-month ceasefire three days ago, resuming its aerial strikes and ground operations to pressure militants into releasing the remaining hostages.

Three days after Israel ended the two-month truce, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that military operations were escalating across air, land, and sea, with plans to relocate civilians to southern Gaza.

Katz reiterated that Israel would continue its offensive until Hamas released more hostages and was completely defeated. Israeli airstrikes this week dealt a significant blow to Hamas, killing its Gaza government chief and other high-ranking officials.

Hamas stated on Friday that it is reviewing a US proposal to restore the ceasefire. Of the more than 250 hostages taken during Hamas' October 2023 attack on Israel, 59 remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff's "bridge" plan, proposed last week, seeks to extend the ceasefire into April, beyond Ramadan and Passover, providing time for negotiations toward a lasting peace.

Israeli airstrikes on Tuesday alone killed more than 400 Palestinians, with scant let-up since then.

"Hamas has a choice," Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon told the council. "They can come back to the table and negotiate, or they can wait and watch their leadership fall, one by one. We will not stop until our people come home, all of them."

Meanwhile, French Ambassador Jerome Bonnafont urged Israel to “unconditionally resume humanitarian aid, halt the bombings, remain committed to negotiations despite delays, and avoid responding to cruelty with escalating violence.”