According to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, several Hamas officials recently submitted requests for their families to leave Gaza, and some asked to leave themselves. All were denied. Among those who sought to leave, according to the coordinator’s office, were Mohammed Madhoun, a Hamas minister; the family of Ismail Ashkar, head of Hamas’ foreign affairs and defense committee; and the family of Alaa al-Din Bata, head of a Hamas governmental committee.
He added: “The hypocrisy of Hamas is exposed. While its operatives try to flee with their families, the murderous organization abandons you, residents of Gaza, and inflicts psychological terror on you to stay as human shields. Hamas is orchestrating a vile campaign for its deadly goals. It endangers you, harms your families and sacrifices the entire Strip on the altar of terror, dragging Gaza toward ruin. Do not let the organization’s lies harm you.”
Earlier Sunday, the IDF struck the Mahna Tower in Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa neighborhood. Before the strike, the nearby al-Kawthar Tower was also hit, after Arabic-language military spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee urged residents to evacuate. Leaflets calling for evacuation were also dropped over Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood.
Shortly afterward, the military bombed the Mahna Tower, which officials said Hamas used for observation posts. Reports from Gaza said a car near Shifa Hospital was also targeted, killing one Palestinian and wounding several others, alongside heavy shelling in Tel al-Hawa. The military said steps were taken to minimize civilian casualties.
The strikes are part of an ongoing wave of attacks in Gaza City, which also hit the prosecutor’s office, a radio building and the al-Nour Tower.