Jerusalem: The Israeli military has claimed to have killed a senior Hamas intelligence commander during a recent airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip, amid an ongoing ground and air campaign across the war-torn territory.
According to a statement released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday, Amjad Muhammad Hassan Shaer, the head of Hamas’ counter-intelligence directorate within its General Security Apparatus, was eliminated in a precision strike earlier this week.
The IDF stated that Shaer’s role was pivotal in thwarting espionage and securing top Hamas leadership. His death is being portrayed as a major operational achievement by Israeli forces, who continue their aggressive campaign across Gaza. Xinhua news agency reported that the directorate is responsible for suppressing opposition to Hamas’ rule, securing senior officials, and preventing espionage.
The Israeli military further reported that, in coordination with ground troops, the Israeli Air Force struck dozens of Hamas-linked targets throughout Thursday. These included tunnel networks, weapons storage sites, anti-tank missile launchers, and terrorist cells.
Meanwhile, Palestine’s official news agency WAFA reported a tragic incident in Gaza City on Friday, where an Israeli airstrike hit a school that was sheltering displaced civilians. At least five Palestinians were killed and dozens injured in the attack.
Operations are ongoing in northern Gaza, with heavy Israeli troop presence in Beit Hanoun, Jabalia, and the Daraj Tuffah area of Gaza City. The IDF stated that the 98th Division has significantly expanded its operations and is dismantling tunnel shafts and other underground infrastructure linked to Hamas.
In another development, the IDF announced that Muhammad al-‘Amour, a Hamas operative managing the Rafah Crossing’s goods terminal, was killed near Khan Yunis. Al-‘Amour was allegedly involved in smuggling weapons and military equipment into Gaza.
Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visited the Ground Forces command at Camp Bar-Lev on Wednesday, highlighting the scale of the conflict. “There has never been a war like this in the history of the IDF,” Zamir said, referring to operations stretching across Gaza, Beirut, Syria, Jenin, Sanaa, and even Tehran.
Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning to Hamas leaders, accusing them of turning Gaza into ruins while living luxuriously abroad. “If hostages are not released soon, the gates of hell will open,” he said, referencing the recent deaths of senior Hamas leaders Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Sinwar.
In the diplomatic sphere, US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff expressed frustration with stalled negotiations. “Hamas does not appear to be acting in good faith. We are exploring alternative options to secure the release of hostages,” he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, asserting that Hamas remains the primary obstacle to peace and the return of hostages.
At a state memorial for Zionist leader Ze’ev Jabotinsky, Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s war aims: the defeat of Hamas and the return of Israeli captives. “We will not surrender under pressure. Hamas should not mistake our willingness to negotiate as weakness,” he declared.
As the situation in Gaza grows increasingly dire, humanitarian concerns continue to rise, with global attention turning to the rising civilian toll amid intensified military action.
