JERUSALEM: The Israeli army stated on Sunday (Nov 15) its forces had struck a senior militant from Hamas’s army wing, which confirmed the loss of life of considered one of its commanders in Gaza.
Samir Abu Younis, a army chief who performed a key function in planning Hamas’s Oct 7, 2023 assault on Israel, was killed on Saturday, in keeping with an announcement from the Islamist motion’s Al-Qassam Brigade.
“A short time in the past, the IDF and ISA struck a senior terrorist in Hamas’ army wing,” the Israeli army stated in a joint assertion with inner safety company Shin Wager, within the early hours of Sunday morning.
It didn’t elaborate however stated it will later present additional particulars.
“He was killed yesterday night … in a cowardly assassination operation,” the Al-Qassam Brigade posted on Telegram, including Younis was “among the many most essential commanders concerned within the planning and supervision of the Oct 7 assault”.
A safety supply informed AFP shortly after midnight that Younis, the commander of Al-Qassam’s Rafah Brigade, died in a strike “focusing on him moments in the past in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis.”
Gaza’s civil defence spokesman, Mahmoud Bassal, informed AFP the company had acquired the physique of Younis, 53, and stated two folks had been wounded within the strike in Gaza’s south.
Israel and Hamas have accused one another of violating the ceasefire that got here into impact in October 2025, after two years of battle triggered by the Oct 7 assault.
Whereas the US-backed ceasefire has largely subdued the preventing, Israel has saved up common strikes within the territory.
Greater than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed because the begin of the ceasefire, in keeping with the Gaza well being ministry, which operates underneath Hamas authority and whose figures are thought of dependable by the United Nations.
Throughout the identical interval, the Israeli army has reported the lack of seven troopers, in addition to one civilian contractor.
Israel’s former military chief Gadi Eisenkot is presently locked in negotiations to kind a governing coalition whereas his rival, caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stays accountable for army operations.
