An Israeli air strike on Sunday in the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of two Hamas security officials, according to Gaza’s interior ministry. Among those killed was Colonel Wael Musa Al-Ladawi, a senior Hamas officer and the head of the group’s internal security service in the area. The other casualty was identified as Ramez Tawfiq Abu Zureiq.

The two men were traveling together in a vehicle when it was targeted and struck by the air strike. Footage circulating on social media, including that posted by the Shehab News Agency, showed a severely damaged, burned-out car surrounded by thick clouds of smoke in the middle of a street.

Following the strike, the bodies of Colonel Al-Ladawi and Abu Zureiq were reportedly transported to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for identification and medical examination.

Israeli military forces have not immediately commented on the strike. The incident is part of ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas, with the Israeli military frequently targeting Hamas officials and infrastructure in Gaza in response to rocket fire and other attacks.