Hamas announces deaths of four top commanders

Hamas said on Sunday that four of its senior leaders were slain by Israeli forces in Gaza.

They were Ahmed Ghandour, the commander of Hamas’s “military” wing in northern Gaza; Ayman Siam, head of its rocket array; Raafat Salman, a senior commander in the organization’s “military” arm; and Wael Rajab, also a senior commander in the terrorist organization.

The IDF said that it had previously targeted Ghandour and Siam, but did not confirm that they were killed.

It was unclear when and how the four Hamas commanders were killed. Hamas started a war with Israel when approximately 3,000 of its terrorists stormed the border on Oct. 7 and went on a murderous rampage in the northwestern Negev, accompanied by thousands of rockets fired at Israeli communities.

The Israel Air Force began strikes on terrorists in Gaza soon after the massacre, with ground troops entering the Strip on Oct. 27.

Ghandour was a top Hamas leader, in his position for 18 years, according to Maariv. He was responsible for many attacks carried out against Israelis. Siam survived several previous targeted killing attempts, including in 2009 and 2014. In his previous position, he commanded the terrorist organization’s artillery.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi on Sunday assured troops in the Gaza Strip that the war against Hamas would resume following the ceasefire designed to rescue hostages being held by the terrorists.

“The IDF and its soldiers fight fiercely to protect the lives of our people while upholding the values of the military. We created conditions for the release of the hostages, children and mothers, during this truce,” wrote Halevi.

“When the deal is completed, we will return to our operations with determination, for the continued release of the hostages and the complete dismantlement of Hamas,” he added.