IDF Kills Hamas Commander Involved in Hostage Holding
Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad, accused of holding seven hostages, was eliminated in an airstrike.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Thursday the elimination of Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad, a Hamas commander allegedly responsible for holding seven Israeli hostages in a Gaza tunnel.
Awad was killed in an airstrike in the Gaza City area over the weekend, according to the IDF. The military stated he was involved in holding hostages Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Doron Steinbrecher, Naama Levy, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, and Eitan Mor. The IDF also reported that Awad had been planning terror attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians and was working to rebuild Hamas's capabilities in violation of a ceasefire.
"Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance," the IDF said in a statement. "IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat."
Separately, the IDF on Wednesday eliminated Muhammad Abu Alwan, who led Hamas's financial operations, in a strike in the southern Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) for the operation in Khan Yunis. "We will continue to hunt down Hamas commanders and operatives, target its sources of funding and destroy its terrorist infrastructure," Netanyahu and Katz stated. "We will not allow Hamas to rebuild its strength, nor will we stop until Hamas no longer exists in Gaza."
The Board of Peace, on Tuesday night, acknowledged the progress made in Gaza over the past year, noting that the implementation of its 15-point roadmap for peace and transition would be challenging but expressed confidence in success with international support. U.S. President Donald Trump, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, highlighted the shift from a raging conflict a year prior to the current diplomatic efforts, crediting the UN Security Council's unanimous adoption of Resolution 2803 and the establishment of the Board of Peace.
On Monday, the Board of Peace urged all parties to uphold the ceasefire and refrain from actions that could undermine it. The board reaffirmed its commitment to demilitarization and deradicalization in Gaza, an Israeli withdrawal, the establishment of an effective Palestinian administration, and reconstruction with humanitarian aid. "The political choice is now clear… UNGA provides an opportunity to consolidate the international community behind one agreed framework, and to demonstrate that diplomacy can deliver lasting peace, security and a better future for Palestinians and Israelis," the Board of Peace stated.
Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a warning to Hamas against further kidnappings. He stated that if any Israeli soldier or civilian is abducted, Gaza City would be evacuated and subjected to a similar response as Rafah and Beit Hanoun. Katz also pledged that Israeli forces would not withdraw from their current positions in Gaza as long as Hamas remains in the Strip and it is not demilitarized.