Three sons of Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas Political Bureau, along with his three grandchildren, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City Wednesday.
Hamas' media office reported that the sons were killed by a strike on their car while they were driving in Al-Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City. Three of Haniyeh's grandchildren were also killed in the raid, Hamas said.
Later in the day, Israel officially confirmed the attack.
"An aircraft struck three Hamas military operatives that conducted terrorist activity in the central Gaza Strip," Israel's Shin Bet security service and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a joint statement.
According to the statement, the three sons who were killed are Amir Haniyeh, Mohammad Haniyeh, and Hazem Haniyeh.
The IDF added in the statement that it is "aware of claims that other relatives of Haniyeh were harmed, among them a minor. This information is not verified by the IDF."
Haniyeh said in an interview with Al Jazeera TV after the attack that the killing of his sons would not affect Hamas' demands in Gaza ceasefire negotiations.
Haniyeh, the 61-year-old Hamas leader, is based in Qatar.
Iran helicopter crash that killed President Raisi could reverberate across the Middle East
China news: Chinese military base in Solomon Islands will mean defence overhaul for Australia
Federal tax collection in Brazil reached BRL 174.31 bi in September
Democracy declines for 20th consecutive year, advocacy group says
Brazil replaces injured goalkeeper Ederson in Copa America squad
WHO asks China for more information on spike in pediatric respiratory illnesses
Inflation runs hot for third straight month, driven by gas prices and rent
China sanctions 2 US defense companies and says they support arms sales to Taiwan
Burglar hurled stolen mobile phones at police from the top of 60ft high roof during nine
VOX POPULI: Being an adult should be about more than what we can achieve
Target to lower prices on basic goods in response to inflation
Biden, Marcos announce infrastructure plans to counter Chinese projects