Israeli Army Radio reported on Saturday, citing three defense sources, that the target of the airstrike in the Al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza was very significant. Israeli media mentioned that the air force heavily attacked several sites in Khan Younis aiming to eliminate the leader of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Mohammed Deif. It has not yet been confirmed whether Deif was assassinated or not, but the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth stated that the Israeli military assessed that Mohammed Deif was seriously injured. Israeli media reported that Raef Salameh, the commander of the Khan Younis Brigade, was among the targets of the Israeli strike. The Israeli army stated that it is investigating reports from Gaza about dozens of deaths in airstrikes near Khan Younis.
**Battle Developments**
On Saturday, the Israeli army announced that it continues its operations in the Gaza Strip, particularly in Gaza City, following artillery shelling and drone strikes conducted by Israeli aircraft. In central Gaza, Palestinian Red Crescent paramedics announced the recovery of four victims, including a father and his three daughters, after their home was bombed in Deir al-Balah.
In the north, witnesses reported on Friday that Israeli soldiers were withdrawing from several neighborhoods in Gaza City, where civil defense announced the discovery of about 60 bodies in the Al-Sinaa and Tal al-Hawa neighborhoods southwest of the city. On Thursday, civil defense reported finding another 60 bodies in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood east of the city, which had seen intense fighting for about two weeks. On Saturday morning, witnesses reported that artillery shelling was targeting the southeast of Gaza City and the central area in the Al-Rimal neighborhood, in addition to drone strikes in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood.
