Tel Aviv, Jan. 2 -- An airstrike killed the head of Hamas's internal security apparatus, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Thursday.

Hussam Shawan was responsible for the terror group's internal security in southern Gaza. According to the IDF, Hamas's internal security carried out violent interrogations against residents of the Gaza Strip, while severely violating human rights and suppressing the organization's opponents.

"The terrorist Shawan was responsible for creating an intelligence picture, together with other bodies of the military wing of the Hamas terrorist organization, against the activities of our forces in the Gaza Strip," the army said.

Shawan was killed while hiding in the Khan Yunis humanitarian zone. The IDF said ...