Hamas says leadership vote inconclusive in 1st round; 2nd round to be held later

GAZA -- Hamas said Saturday in an official statement that it has held an election to choose its leader, but the result was not decided in the first round.

A second round of voting will be held "at a later date," the statement added.

Hamas confirmed on Saturday that Izz al-Din al-Haddad, commander-in-chief of its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.

Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli military and the domestic security agency Shin Bet confirmed in a joint statement that al-Haddad was killed in the Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Friday.

Also on Saturday, two Palestinians were killed and five others injured in an Israeli airstrike targeting a civilian vehicle west of Gaza City, according to Palestinian security and medical sources.