Israel Strikes Gaza Building, Aiming for Hamas Successor to Sinwar

The Israeli military reportedly attempted to assassinate senior Hamas official Ali al-Amawi in a strike on a building in Gaza City early Tuesday. Al-Amawi is considered a potential successor to Yahya Sinwar as Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian reports indicate that five people, including four women, were killed in the airstrike, with others injured and rescue efforts ongoing.

However, sources within Hamas have expressed doubt about whether al-Amawi was killed, suggesting he may have survived the attack. The strike occurred in western Gaza City, exactly three years after the October 7th attacks. Al-Amawi, a member of Hamas's political bureau, has become a central figure in managing the organization's affairs in Gaza since the elimination of Sinwar and other senior leaders during the ongoing war.

Al-Amawi is currently competing with Nizar Awadallah for leadership of Hamas's political bureau in Gaza. His standing has grown significantly following the deaths of other top Hamas figures, leading many to view him as Sinwar's potential successor. He was previously responsible for the organization's information and communication department before the war and was released from Israeli prison in the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange, alongside Sinwar.

The attempted assassination follows a series of recent strikes targeting senior Hamas officials, including the commanders of the Northern Gaza and Rafah brigades, and the director of Hamas's finance department. Amidst this heightened activity, intelligence suggests Hamas may be planning to abduct an Israeli soldier in the Gaza sector, leading to an increased alert level for IDF forces in the area.

Sources cited by Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat and other Arab media outlets have cast doubt on al-Amawi's death. One source suggested that while al-Amawi was present at the targeted location, he might have survived. The internal Hamas election for the head of the political bureau in Gaza is ongoing, with the runoff round currently frozen due to an appeal filed by Awadallah.