Israeli airstrike kills group commander in Gaza

Gaza City, Palestinian Territories: An Israeli airstrike killed a top Palestinian commander of a fighter group and another fighter in Gaza on Friday in the highest profile attack against the coastal strip in months.

The slain commander was identified as Zuhair Al Qaissi and witnesses said Israeli drones were seen hovering above just moments before a vehicle exploded into flames, just outside of Gaza City.

Al Qaissi was the top commander of the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committee, a large group aligned with Hamas.

The group’s spokesman confirmed his death. He identified the second casualty as Mahmoud Hanini, who hails from the West Bank and was released from an Israeli prison five years and deported to Gaza.

“The coward Zionists have committed an ugly crime and they know the price that they are going to pay,” said the spokesman, who goes by the pseudonym Abu Mujahid.