An Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip killed a Hamas militant who led the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on a kibbutz close to the Palestinian enclave that left 75 troopers and civilians lifeless, Israel Protection Forces officers introduced Thursday.
Haitham Razek Abd al-Karim Sheikh Khalil, commander of a Hamas terror battalion, was killed in Wednesday’s strike on a command put up in Gaza Metropolis half a mile from Israeli troops.
“A number of Hamas terrorists operated from inside the command heart so as to plan and execute terrorist assaults in opposition to Israeli civilians and IDF troopers,” Israeli army officers mentioned on their Telegram social media website.
The IDF and the Israel Safety Company, generally often called Shin Wager, mentioned Mr. Khalil was a part of Hamas’ Shejaiya Battalion that raided Nahal Oz, a kibbutz in southern Israel close to the Gaza border two years in the past.
“All through the battle, he deliberate and executed terrorist assaults in opposition to IDF troops and operated to plant explosives and bobby-trap fight zones,” IDF officers posted on Telegram.
The officers mentioned he assumed management of the Shejaiya Battalion following the demise in fight of his speedy predecessor and the earlier commander.
“Previous to the strike, quite a few steps had been taken to mitigate hurt to civilians, together with using exact munitions, aerial surveillance and extra intelligence,” the IDF officers mentioned.
Israel has accused Hamas of “systematically” violating worldwide legislation by “brutally exploiting” the civilian inhabitants as a human defend for its terrorism.
“The IDF and the ISA will proceed to function in opposition to Hamas to guard the State of Israel,” the IDF officers posted.
