Israel Confirms Elimination of Hamas' Acting Prime Minister Ismail Barhoum

The Israel Defense Forces announced Monday that it had successfully eliminated Ismail Barhoum, Hamas’ acting “Prime Minister” in Gaza, during a targeted airstrike in Khan Younis on Sunday.

Barhoum, a senior member of Hamas’s politburo, had recently assumed the role following the death of Essam al-Dalist in a March 18 IDF operation. He was considered one of the terror group’s top decision-makers, overseeing its Institutions and Finance portfolio.

“Barhoum was a central figure in the organization’s political bureau and in making decisions that directly influenced Hamas’ terrorist activity against IDF forces,” said the IDF. “He was in charge of managing the terrorist organization’s finances, including routing funds to Hamas’ military wing to plan and execute attacks on Israel.”

According to the IDF, Barhoum was killed while operating out of Nasser Hospital, highlighting Hamas’s repeated use of civilian infrastructure as cover for terror activities.

“This is another example of how the Hamas terrorist organization systematically violates international law and takes over civilian infrastructure,” the military stated, “cruelly exploiting the population as human shields for its operations.”

Hamas’s use of hospitals is well documented. The IDF previously reported that 85% of Gaza’s medical facilities have been used by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for terror-related operations. Gaza’s largest hospital, Shifa, was found to have rocket launchers, tunnel shafts, and even hostages hidden within its compound.

Barhoum’s elimination marks another strategic blow to Hamas’s leadership, as Israel continues its efforts to dismantle the group following the October 7 massacre that left 1,180 dead and 252 hostages taken. Of the 59 hostages still believed to be in Gaza, 36 are presumed dead.

Hamas is a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization and has long embedded itself in civilian areas to conduct operations, knowing Israel takes significant measures to avoid harming non-combatants.

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