JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister has confirmed that Israel killed a top Hamas leader last summer and is threatening to take similar measures against the leadership of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen.
Israel Katz’s comments appeared to be the first time Israel has admitted to killing Ismail Haniyeh, who died in an explosion in Iran in July. Israel is believed to be responsible for the explosion and leaders have previously hinted at its involvement.
In his speech on Monday, Katz said the Houthis will meet the same fate as other members of the Iranian-led coalition in the region, including Haniyeh. He also noted that Israel had killed some Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, helped overthrow Bashar Assad of Syria and destroyed Iran’s anti-aircraft systems.
“We will strike (the Houthis) strategic infrastructure and cut off the head of the leadership,” he said.
“As we did to Haniyeh, Sinwar and Nasrallah in Tehran, Gaza and Lebanon, we will do it in Hodeida and Sanaa,” he said, referring to Hamas and Hezbollah leaders killed in previous Israeli attacks.
The Iran-backed Houthis have launched dozens of missiles and drones at Israel throughout the war, including a missile that landed in Tel Aviv on Saturday and injured at least 16 people.
Israel has carried out three sets of airstrikes in Yemen during the war and has vowed to increase pressure on the rebel group until the missile attacks end.
Also on Monday, the UN food agency reported that 23 trucks in a convoy of 66 trucks carrying food and other relief items in central Gaza were looted and lost.
UN spokeswoman Stephanie Tremblay said the World Food Program convoy left the Kerem Shalon crossing via the newly approved Philadelphia Corridor on Sunday.
Although Israel has assured that security conditions will be in place, he said there has been an airstrike.
Tremblay said the first 35 trucks reached the WFP warehouse without loss. He said the Israel Defense Forces delayed the entire convoy.
The news of the movement of this trip spread, said Tremblay, which led to looting along the way, as a total of 43 trucks reached the storage area and another 23 were lost.
He called it “another example of why we continue to emphasize the need for safe, unrestricted aid to reach the people who need it most.”
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