Three sons of Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh killed in Israel strike in Gaza: report

Three sons of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh have been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza as the war in the Palestinian territory raged despite ongoing truce negotiations in Cairo, according to an international media outlet report.

Qatar-based Ismail Haniyeh said his three sons and “some of” his grandchildren had been killed in the strike in an interview with Al Jazeera.

The strike came as talks in Cairo aimed at a ceasefire and a hostage release deal dragged on without signs of a breakthrough. Israel did not immediately comment on the strike.

The United States has been ramping up pressure on Israel to agree to a truce, increase the amount of aid it allows into the Gaza Strip and abandon plans to invade the southern city of Rafah.

US President Joe Biden labelled Israel’s conduct of the war a “mistake” in an interview broadcast on Tuesday.

Wednesday marked the first day of the Eidul Fitr holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, with Gazans gathering to pray amid the devastation of the six-month war.

Tens of thousands also flocked to Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound where one worshipper, nurse Rawan Abd, said: “It’s the saddest Eid ever… you could see the sadness on people’s faces.”