Israeli forces killed two members of Hamas’s engineering unit in a strike in the Gaza City area, the Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday. The military identified the individuals as Hassan Ali Abu Nada and Abd al-Rahim Ahmad Khalil Khawa.
According to the IDF, both men were involved in weapons production and development, attacks against Israeli troops and civilians, and efforts to rebuild Hamas’s capabilities, which the IDF stated constitutes a violation of the ceasefire.
This operation follows other recent strikes targeting Hamas operatives. On Friday, the IDF and the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced the killing of Muhammad Yazouri, identified as the commander of Hamas’s Khan Yunis Brigade, in a strike in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday night. Yazouri had held several senior positions within the brigade, including deputy commander and head of its Intelligence Department. The security forces stated he was responsible for directing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and was working to restore the brigade's capabilities after sustaining significant damage.
Also killed in the strike that eliminated Yazouri were Hudheifa Muammar, a company commander, and Muhammad Bahjat Rashi, described as another operative within the Khan Yunis Brigade. The IDF stated that measures were taken to minimize civilian harm, including the use of precision munitions and aerial surveillance.
In a separate strike in the Khan Yunis area on Thursday, the IDF and Shin Bet reported killing Moamen Jabr al-Sayed Abu Labda, who they identified as the head of a sniper cell in Hamas’s Rafah Brigade. According to the statement, he conducted sniper training aimed at harming Israeli civilians and IDF troops. The IDF indicated he was targeted to neutralize a threat he posed as he attempted to reconstitute Hamas’s capabilities.
Additionally, on Thursday, the military reported the elimination of Ismail Ibrahim Darwish Kandil, identified as a Hamas Nukhba Force terrorist, in a strike in the Khan Yunis area on September 7. The IDF stated Kandil infiltrated Israel and participated in the killing of Col. Yonatan Steinberg during the October 7, 2023, attacks. The IDF also noted that Kandil had recently advanced attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and worked to restore Hamas’s capabilities.
In a related development, an IDF officer stated that forces had completed the destruction of a tunnel network in Beit Hanoun, in northeastern Gaza. Colonel Omri Mashiah described the tunnel network as extensive and noted that Hamas had transformed the area into a "real terror town." He added that the mission of destroying the tunnels had been completed with determination and professionalism.