Israeli forces killed a Hamas Nukhba terrorist cell commander in a targeted strike in southern Gaza last week, identified as Sakr Abu Karim, who helped lead the Oct. 7, 2023, infiltration of the Kissufim area.
According to Sunday’s Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) joint statement, Abu Karim had continued to plan and carry out attacks against Israeli troops during the war and was recently involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas capabilities, including weapons stockpiling and training for future attacks in violation of the ceasefire.
The strike, carried out on Tuesday, also killed a Hamas terrorist who served as a communications operative, according to the statement.
Separately, the Israeli military said on Saturday that it carried out a targeted strike in southern Gaza overnight Friday, killing a Hamas commander planning attacks on Israeli forces.
The Israel Defense Forces identified the terrorist as Muhanad Othman Yassin Farwana, a commander in Hamas’s “military” wing. Farwana had been involved in advancing multiple attack plans during the war and posed an immediate threat to troops operating in the area, the IDF said.
The strike was conducted with precise munitions and aerial surveillance to minimize civilian harm, the military added.
Israeli forces under Southern Command remain deployed in the area in line with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operations against immediate threats.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir during a visit to the Gaza Strip on Sunday said the military continues to “strengthen operational control on the ground and erode Hamas’s power.
“We will continue to act until we achieve the goal of disarming Hamas—this is a goal we will not give up on,” he declared following a tour of the Strip.
“Our forces are prepared and are on high alert on all fronts,” said Zamir. “The IDF is prepared to return to combat and is ready for whatever is required until the mission is completed and the security of the residents of the State of Israel is ensured.”
