Families of hostages held in Gaza say they have lost hope in negotiations to secure their release after the Israeli military killed a relative of a Hamas political leader in an airstrike.

Hamas said Ismail Haniyeh’s three sons – Hazim, Amir and Mohammed – were killed when the car they were driving was targeted during an Israeli airstrike on the Shati camp in Gaza.

The group added that four of Mr Haniyeh’s grandchildren, three girls and a boy, were also killed in Wednesday’s attack.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attack and said the sons were operatives of Hamas’s armed wing “en route” to carry out military activities in central Gaza. When asked on Wednesday about the status of the grandson who died in the strike, the company said it had “no information at this time.”

The attack could complicate negotiations aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for the return of some 133 Israeli hostages believed to be held by Hamas.

Some analysts said the timing of the attack looked like it was intended to derail negotiations.

“Netanyahu doesn’t want to make a deal. It’s no mystery,” said Daniel Levy, president of the U.S./Middle East Project and a former senior adviser to the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. I.

“But I don’t think he has to do that to block the deal. Hamas’s position will not be forced to make more compromises as a result. The position may not become stronger as a result.”

Qatar-based Haniyeh accused Israel of acting in a “spirit of revenge and murder” but said Hamas would not withdraw its demands, which include a permanent ceasefire and the return of displaced Palestinians to their homes.

“Anyone who thinks that targeting my son will force Hamas to change its position is delusional,” Haniyeh said.

Levy said the attack had the potential to further inflame Israeli public dissatisfaction with Netanyahu and his handling of the war.

He said a family member of one Gaza hostage commented: “This could be the day we give up hope.”

Mr Levy added: “Killing your grandson when you should be rescuing hostages smacks of desperation.”

On Thursday, the Israel Defense Forces said it carried out “precision, intelligence-based operations” overnight in central Gaza with fighter jets and ground troops to “eliminate terrorists and target terrorist infrastructure.” It was unclear whether the operation was related to the attack on Haniyeh’s son.

this times of israelAmir Haniyeh was a squad leader in Hamas’s military wing, while Hazim and Mohammed were lower-ranking operatives, the IDF and Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet reported.

Some Israeli media reportsIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galante were not notified before the attack, senior officials were quoted as saying. Neither Mr Netanyahu nor Mr Galante have commented publicly on the reports.

during an interview Al JazeeraMr. Haniyeh said his three sons and grandson were traveling to visit relatives in the Gaza City camp to celebrate the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr.

under international humanitarian lawalso known as the laws of war or the law of armed conflict, provides that civilians are protected from attack “but lose this protection whenever they take a direct part in hostilities”.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the law stipulates that people holding non-combatant positions in armed groups, including political or administrative positions, “may not at any time be targeted unless and only if they are in the same position as any other civilian “, taking direct part in hostilities”.

Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, claimed Mr Haniyeh’s family were not legitimate targets.

“Relatives of combatants who did not take part in the fighting were civilians,” He wrote on X. “Even political leaders – if not participating in military operations – are not legitimate targets under the laws of war.

“Deliberate attacks on civilians are heinous war crimes that are unjustifiable. Ever.”