Israeli airstrikes killed a senior Hamas police official in southern Gaza as the IDF prepares for a ground assault on what is said to be the terrorist group’s last remaining stronghold.

Majdi Abd al-Aal, the head of Hamas’ police special forces, was reportedly blown up in a targeted assassination in Rafah late on Wednesday night.

An image published by Israeli and Palestinian media shows the remains of a police car, twisted and blackened by the explosion.

Separately, NBC News reported that several children were taken to a local hospital for treatment after being caught in an airstrike in the city.

Mr Netanyahu has been cautioned against launching a ground offensive in Rafah by the White House, which fears there will be mass civilian casualties without large-scale evacuations.

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