The Israeli military has announced the killing of a Hamas commander who it said led the October 7, 2023 attack on an Israeli military post near the Gaza border.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Muhammad Mahmoud Marshad al-Qadi, a company commander in Hamas’s elite Nukhba Force, was killed in an airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Wednesday.
According to the military, al-Qadi led the assault on the Sufa military post during the October 7 attack, when Hamas-led fighters crossed into southern Israel and attacked military and civilian targets.
The IDF also accused al-Qadi of participating in the holding of Israeli hostages in the Rafah area during the subsequent war.
The military said al-Qadi had recently been involved in training Hamas fighters and efforts to rebuild the group’s military capabilities.
It further alleged that he had been advancing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians despite the existing ceasefire.
The IDF said the strike was carried out based on intelligence provided by Israel’s domestic security agency, Shin Bet, and military intelligence.
“The terrorist was eliminated to remove the threat he posed,” the military said.
Israel has continued conducting targeted operations against Hamas figures in Gaza despite the ceasefire, accusing the group of attempting to rebuild its military infrastructure and carry out attacks.
Hamas has repeatedly accused Israel of violating the ceasefire through military operations and strikes across Gaza.
The announcement comes as negotiations continue over the implementation of the wider US-backed plan for Gaza, including arrangements concerning Hamas’s disarmament and Israel’s military presence in the territory.
