Hamas’ military wing said Tuesday an Israeli airstrike on the central Gaza Strip killed one of its top militant commanders.

Ayman Nofal, known by his nom de guerre Abu Ahmad, was a member of the general military council of Izz el-Deen Al-Qassam Brigades in charge of the Central Gaza area, Hamas said in the statement.

Nofal is the most high-profile Hamas militant to have been killed so far in the Israeli bombardment on Gaza.

The Israeli military confirmed Nofal’s killing, describing him as “one of the most dominant figures” in the organization, in a statement on X.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Securities Authority (ISA) announced that ISA intelligence and IDF fighter jets operated in the Gaza Strip, killing Billal Al Kedra, “the Nukhba commander of the forces in southern Khan Yunis, who was responsible for the Kibbutz Nirim massacre,” adding that “Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror operatives were also killed.”

Israel’s killing of Nofal follows the Israeli army’s warning of an anticipated ground offensive in Gaza in an effort to eradicate the Hamas militant group.

Authorities in Gaza reported Israeli strikes have killed nearly 2,800 Palestinians and about 10,000 others injured are injured.