India, March 24 -- The Israel Defence Forces on Monday said a senior Hamas leader and his aide died during a strike conducted on Nasser Hospital in the Khan Younis region of the southern Gaza Strip.

The deceased Hamas leader was identified as the group's financial affairs head Ismail Barhoum.

He was receiving treatment at the hospital after being wounded in an air strike four days ago, a Hamas official told BBC.

Confirming the death of the Hamas leader, IDF said: "A key Hamas terrorist who was operating from within the Nasser Hospital compound in Gaza was precisely struck."

"The strike was conducted following an extensive intelligence-gathering process and with precise munitions in order to mitigate harm to the surrounding environment...