Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 15, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Senior Hamas official confirms death of commander in armed wing, condemns ‘dangerous escalation’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSenior Hamas official Osama Hamdan confirms the assassination earlier this evening of Muhammad al-Hawli, a commander in the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s armed wing.
The attack in central Gaza’s Deir al-Balah, which reportedly killed at least five other people, including Hawli’s wife and daughter, “is a dangerous escalation and reveals Israel’s intent to undermine the ceasefire agreement,” says Hamdan.
He calls on US President Donald Trump and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to hold Israel to account.
“The ball is now in Trump’s and Witkoff’s court, and Washington must demonstrate Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire agreement,” he says.
The IDF has not commented on the strike.
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