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An Israeli airstrike has killed the son of Hamas' top negotiator in U.S.-mediated discussions over Gaza's future, Hamas officials said on Thursday, as leaders of the group held talks in Cairo to preserve a fragile truce with Israel.
Azzam Al-Hayya, the son of Khalil Al-Hayya, died on Thursday from injuries sustained in an Israeli attack Wednesday night, health authorities and Hamas spokespeople reported. He is the fourth son of the Gaza-based leader to be killed in separate Israeli operations.
The Israeli military declined to comment on the incident.
Later Thursday, the Hamas-run interior ministry said an Israeli strike on a police station in western Gaza City killed at least three officers and injured others, including one policeman.
The Israeli army said it had targeted a Hamas command center in northern Gaza, claiming militants were planning attacks on Israeli personnel and civilians. The strikes come amid an intensification of Israeli operations against Hamas' security infrastructure, Reuters has reported.
Hayya, father of seven, has survived multiple Israeli assassination attempts. Past attacks in Gaza in 2008 and 2014, as well as a strike in Doha last year, claimed the lives of three of his sons.
Speaking to Al Jazeera shortly after the Wednesday night strike, before Azzam's death was confirmed, Hayya accused Israel of trying to derail the U.S.-brokered peace process. "These repeated attacks show the occupation is unwilling to honor the ceasefire or the first phase of the Gaza agreement," he said.
At Azzam's funeral, dozens of Palestinians chanted "Allahu akbar" and performed prayers, while relatives paid respects to his body. "Your sacrifice will not deter my father from his principles," said the victim's sister.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said the killing was an unsuccessful attempt to pressure negotiators. "Targeting leaders and their families will not force a political concession," he said.
The strike coincides with talks in Cairo between Hamas, other Palestinian factions, and U.N. envoy Nickolay Mladenov to advance the second stage of Trump's Gaza plan.
Disarmament of Hamas remains a central sticking point, while Israel is expected to meet obligations from the first phase, including halting attacks.
Since the October ceasefire, at least 830 Palestinians have died, while militants have killed four Israeli soldiers, according to local and Israeli sources.
