Gaza Strike
The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed on Sunday that Rafa’a Salameh, commander of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, was killed in an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday.
The fate of Muhammad Deif, Hamas’s elusive military wing commander targeted in the same strike, remains unconfirmed. IDF Chief Herzi Halevi stated Sunday evening that Hamas’s claim of Deif’s survival was an attempt to conceal the strike’s outcome.
Both senior Hamas figures were targeted in a low building between al-Mawasi and Khan Younis. Hamas asserted that the strike, employing large munitions, resulted in over 90 casualties, primarily Hamas fighters.
The killing of Salameh dealt a significant blow to Hamas’s military capabilities, according to a joint statement from the IDF and Shin Bet, noting his close ties to Deif and his role in strategic planning, including the October 7 attack.
The IDF has not definitively confirmed whether the strike also eliminated Deif, known for surviving at least seven previous assassination attempts.
Military intelligence is reportedly assessing whether Deif’s body is among those taken to Deir al-Balah hospital post-strike.
Salameh, who joined Hamas in the early 1990s, rose through the ranks to lead the al-Qarara Battalion under Mohammad Sinwar and later succeeded him as Khan Younis Brigade head.
Salameh played pivotal roles in the 2006 abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit and in directing Hamas’s defensive operations in 2014 and attack tunnels during Operation Guardians of the Wall in May 2021.
Hamas has vehemently denied reports of Deif’s demise, with a senior official affirming Deif’s continued command over Hamas’s military operations.
In response, IDF Chief Halevi accused Hamas of misinformation and vowed to pursue senior Hamas officials implicated in attacks on civilians.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while acknowledging uncertainty over Deif’s fate, pledged to dismantle Hamas leadership, labelling Deif as a key figure responsible for numerous terror attacks.
Israel’s eighth attempt to eliminate Deif underscores his elusive status and symbolic importance in Palestinian and Israeli narratives.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised IDF pilots for their precision in executing the strike, reaffirming Israel’s commitment to security goals amid ongoing operations against Hamas.
Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar commended the strike as a culmination of strategic intelligence efforts aimed at reducing Hamas’s operational capabilities and ensuring security for Gaza border communities.
