Originally published October 10, 2023 4:00 pm PDT
In a recent operation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the elimination of two key Hamas officials in targeted airstrikes within Gaza.
Jawad Abu Shmala, the finance minister for Hamas, and Zakaria Abu Maamar, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, are the two prominent figures who lost their lives in the strikes, The Jerusalem Post reported on Tuesday.
Jawad Abu Shmala, recognized as the finance minister of Hamas, played a pivotal role in distributing funds for various terror-related activities both inside and beyond the confines of the Gaza Strip.
He was precisely targeted during an airstrike that took place late on Monday.
Zakaria Abu Maamar, serving as the head of international relations for Hamas, held the responsibility for liaising directly with multiple Palestinian factions operating within Gaza.
The IDF has highlighted his close association with the esteemed Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar, as well as his influential presence in the senior decision-making forum of Hamas.
This forum has been implicated in devising several attack strategies against Israeli security.
Also on Tuesday, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the IDF’s chief spokesperson, addressed the media, emphasizing the IDF’s unwavering commitment to neutralizing high-ranking members of Hamas.
“We will not stop the effort to eliminate senior Hamas officials, this is a top priority,” Hagari declared, The Times of Israel reports.
He further shed light on recent events, mentioning, “The directive to the forces is clear. Find terrorists and destroy them.”
The ongoing strife saw numerous clashes on the southern Israeli frontier.
As Hagari reported, IDF forces neutralized several terrorists in various locations, including Sa’ad, Zikim, Sderot, and Re’im.
He stressed on the military’s fortified defense mechanisms, adding, “We are making a strong defense on the border. There were infiltration attempts today, but the terrorists were eliminated before they reached the fence.”
IDF troops have killed at least three Palestinian terrorists near the southern coastal city of Ashkelon.
Using a drone and a combat helicopter for air support, the 17th Battalion fought with the three gunmen close to the Ashkelon industrial zone, just outside the city.
“The troops eliminated the three terrorists and are now continuing to search the area,” the IDF said.
