IDF airstrike kills Hamas commander linked to seven Gaza hostages
The Israeli Defense Forces carried out an aerial attack in the Gaza City area that eliminated Hamas military commander Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad, who was involved in holding seven hostages.
In a weekend offensive around Gaza City, the Israeli Defense Forces launched an aerial strike that killed Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad, a commander within Hamas' military wing. Awad had been identified as a key figure in the kidnapping of seven individuals—Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Doron Steinbrecher, Naama Levy, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran and Eitan Mor—who were held in an underground tunnel. Israeli statements highlighted that the operation employed precise weapons and aerial surveillance to reduce the risk to civilians.
The strike was presented as a response to Awad's planning of further attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians, violating a ceasefire. Troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the vicinity, tasked with eliminating any immediate dangers. The IDF emphasized ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas' operational capabilities in the region.
