Hamas Official Killed in Drone Strike Near Sidon, Southern Lebanon

A senior Hamas official, Muhammad Shaheen, was killed in a targeted drone strike on a vehicle near Sidon, southern Lebanon, on Monday, an Israeli official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post. The airstrike was part of Israel's ongoing efforts to eliminate individuals planning terror attacks against the state of Israel. Shaheen had been involved in planning operations against Israel, making his death a significant blow to Hamas's operations.

In another development, reports from Sky News Arabia on Sunday night indicated that Hamas has expressed a willingness to hand over control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority. This move, reportedly prompted by significant pressure from Egypt, could see Hamas government employees reabsorbed into the new administration or retire, with assurances that their salaries will be maintained.

The news comes amid ongoing talks surrounding the Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal. Israel has sent a working group delegation to Cairo to discuss the implementation of the first phase of the hostage deal, which is expected to see the release of six remaining hostages.