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Israel’s military has announced the deaths of several senior Hamas commanders in strikes across Gaza, including the head of the terror group’s Rafah Brigade and a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative who took part in the October 7 attacks.
The Israel Defence Forces and Shin Bet said Nael Abu Obeid, who also headed Hamas’s military operations division, was killed in a strike yesterday. The military described him as a central figure in the terror group who had worked to rebuild its capabilities and advance attacks on Israel.
Palestinian media reported that civilians were also killed in the strikes.
Abu Obeid took over command of the Rafah Brigade after the previous commander, Muhammad Shabana, was killed in May last year, alongside Hamas leader Mohammad Sinwar.
The IDF also announced the deaths of Ahmad al-Batash, commander of Hamas’s Jabalia Battalion, and Rafat Abu Zamar, a company commander in the group’s operations division. Abu Zamar was accused of overseeing terrorist training ahead of the October 7 attacks.
A separate strike killed Muhammad Khader Fahmi Aghour, whom the military identified as a member of Hamas’s weapons production unit.
The IDF said the commanders had been advancing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and rebuilding Hamas’s military capabilities in violation of the ceasefire.
The military also said that Mohsen Farid Said Abu Hadaf, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket squad commander who participated in the October 7 invasion of Israel, was killed in a strike in Khan Younis.
Hamas has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, while Israel says terror groups continue to breach the agreement and rebuild their capabilities.
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