Israel claims airstrikes kill Hamas government leader and two others in Gaza
PTC News Desk: On Thursday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced the deaths of three senior leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, including Rawhi Mushtaha, who served as the head of the Hamas government in Gaza. The IDF reported that the leaders were killed in an airstrike targeting an underground compound located in northern Gaza.
The military operation resulted in the elimination of Mushtaha alongside two other Hamas commanders: Sameh Siraj, who was responsible for the security portfolio in Hamas' political bureau and its Labor Committee, and Sami Oudeh, the Commander of Hamas' General Security Mechanism.
Approximately 3 months ago, in a joint IDF and ISA strike in Gaza, the following terrorists were eliminated:
????Rawhi Mushtaha, the Head of the Hamas government in Gaza
????Sameh al-Siraj, who held the security portfolio on Hamas' political bureau and Hamas' Labor Committee
????Sami… pic.twitter.com/6xpH6tOOot — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 3, 2024
The IDF emphasised that the compound, heavily fortified and equipped, also functioned as a command and control center for Hamas, allowing the senior operatives to remain hidden for extended periods.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the IDF provided details about the strike, indicating that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to eliminate those responsible for the October 7 massacre, in which Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and initiating a broader conflict in the region. The IDF affirmed its commitment to pursuing all individuals who pose a threat to the State of Israel.
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Mushtaha was known to be a close associate of Yahya Sinwar, a prominent Hamas leader who played a pivotal role in orchestrating the October 7 attack. In a related incident last week, Israel reportedly conducted a "precision strike" in Beirut, Lebanon, resulting in the death of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, marking a significant blow to the Iran-backed militant group.
The security landscape in the Middle East has remained volatile over the past year, particularly following the unprecedented assault by Hamas, which led to a full-scale war in Gaza. This conflict has claimed the lives of over 41,000 individuals and left the region in a state of turmoil.
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- With inputs from agencies
