Israel Kills Senior Hamas Commander Who Planned and Oversaw the October 7 Attack
According to a security source cited by AFP shortly after midnight, Younis, the commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Rafah Brigade, was killed in a strike that had targeted him moments earlier.
The Israeli military said on Sunday that its forces had targeted a senior member of Hamas’s military wing. Hamas also confirmed the death of one of its commanders in Gaza.
Samir Abu Younis, a military leader who played a significant role in planning Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, was killed on Saturday, according to a statement issued by Hamas’s Al-Qassam Brigades.
In a joint statement issued early Sunday morning, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the country’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, said, “A short while ago, the IDF and ISA struck a senior terrorist in Hamas’s military wing.”
However, the statement did not disclose his identity or provide further details about the strike. The Israeli side said more information would be released later.
In a statement posted on Telegram, the Al-Qassam Brigades said, “He was killed yesterday evening… in a cowardly assassination operation.” The group also described Younis as one of the most important commanders involved in planning and overseeing the October 7 attack.
According to information provided to AFP, a security source said that Younis, the commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades’ Rafah Brigade, was killed in a strike in the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis.
Mahmoud Bassal, spokesperson for Gaza’s Civil Defence, told AFP that his agency had received the body of 53-year-old Younis. He also confirmed that two other people were injured in the strike in southern Gaza.
Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025, following two years of war triggered by the October 7, 2023, attack.
Although the US-backed ceasefire has significantly reduced the intensity of fighting, Israel has continued to carry out regular strikes in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, more than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began. The ministry operates under Hamas’s administration. However, the United Nations considers its reported death toll figures reliable.
During the same period, the Israeli military has reported the deaths of seven soldiers and one civilian contractor.
Meanwhile, former Israeli army chief Gadi Eisenkot is currently engaged in negotiations to form a governing coalition. His political rival, caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continues to oversee the country’s military operations.
