IDF says Hamas field commander eliminated in Khan Younis gumzone

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military eliminated a field commander of the Palestinian radical movement Hamas in the humanitarian zone in the town of Khan Younis in the south of the Gaza Strip. This was reported on December 31 by the Israeli army's press service.

"The Israeli Air Force conducted a reconnaissance operation in which it eliminated terrorist Abd al-Hadi Sabah, commander of the Nuhba platoon in the western Khan Younis battalion. The terrorist operated from a hideout in the humanitarian zone in Khan Younis," the Telegram channel said in a statement.

The Israeli army press service specified that the eliminated Abd al-Hadi Sabah was one of the high-ranking radicals who led an attack by armed militants on Kibbutz Nir Oz near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023. The IDF stressed, "will continue to act against all terrorists who took part in the October 7 massacre."

Also, the Israeli army noted that "numerous steps were taken prior to the strike to reduce damage to civilians, including the use of precision munitions, intelligence and aerial surveillance."

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Earlier, on November 1, it was reported that the IDF eliminated a member of the politburo of the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. This is about Izzeddin Kassab, who, according to the Israeli military, being a member of the political bureau of Hamas, was involved in the organization of terrorist attacks against the Jewish State.

On October 17, the Israel Defense Forces announced the elimination of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the southern Gaza Strip. The report noted that the Hamas leader had been wanted for about a year. In turn, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz made a statement that the killing of the head of the movement creates an opportunity for the immediate release of hostages and could lead to a new reality in Gaza. Later, the deputy head of the movement's politburo, Khalil al-Haya, confirmed Sinwar's death. He emphasized that the leader's martyrdom would only increase Hamas' strength.

Meanwhile, back in November last year, it was reported that Sinwar was one of the main organizers of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, when the territory of Israel was subjected to a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. In addition, Hamas took Israeli hostages. On the same day, Israel began retaliatory strikes.

The Palestinians are trying to ensure that future borders between the two countries follow the lines that existed before the 1967 Six Day War, with possible land swaps.