ISTANBUL 

Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday said the acting speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza was killed in Israeli attacks on the building a few days ago.

“We mourn the martyr Ahmed Bahr, the acting speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, who succumbed to his wounds after being injured as a result of the Zionist bombing of the council building in the Gaza Strip,” it said in a statement.

Earlier this week, Israeli soldiers uploaded a photo from inside the headquarters of the parliament building, which was later blown up, according to videos circulating online.

Israel has killed over 12,000 Palestinians besides damaging thousands of civilian structures in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 Hamas offensive. The official Israeli death toll is about 1,200.

An Israeli blockade has also cut Gaza off from fuel, electricity and water supplies, and reduced aid deliveries to a trickle.

Tel Aviv has defied international calls for a cease-fire unless all of the hostages captured by Hamas during its attacks last month are returned.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi