Israel may have assassinated Hamas’s leader in Gaza after launching a massive air strike on a hospital.

Defence sources said they were assessing whether they had killed Mohammed Sinwar in the overnight assault. He was perceived as taking an extreme line on hostage negotiations.

The Israeli Air Force is believed to have used bunker-busting bombs among dozens of munitions in order to destroy what it described as a subterranean terrorist command and control centre at the European Hospital in Khan Younis.

It reportedly targeted the exits to the underground compound with the aim of preventing the escape of any survivors.