JERUSALEM, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military and Shin Bet security agency announced on Monday that they had killed Muhammad Ahmed Albec, the head of the National Security Directorate of Hamas' Security Services, in an airstrike on a school in Gaza.

At least eight people were killed in the strike Sunday on the Musa bin Nusair school in Gaza City's Daraj al-Tuffah neighborhood, which was sheltering displaced people, according to Palestinian health officials.

The Israeli military and Shin Bet claimed in a joint statement that a Hamas command center was located within the school compound, which was struck by the Air Force.

"The Security Directorate of Hamas produces intelligence assessments that aid in Hamas' decision-making, and is also responsible for the security of senior Hamas members, providing them with hideouts to ensure the continuation of their military activities," the statement said. It described Albec as "a central figure" in Hamas' security apparatus. ■