On Thursday, Israel announced the killing of two senior Hamas officials, including the head of the organization’s internal security agency, during airstrikes in the Gaza Strip.
Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee reported via a post on X that forces successfully targeted Rashid Jahjouh, who had taken over as head of the Hamas General Security Service following the elimination of his predecessor, Sami Oudeh, in July 2024. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) also identified another official killed in the strikes as Amin Eslaiah, the head of a covert security unit operating in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
This security mechanism, as described by the IDF, plays a crucial role in Hamas’s operations, tasked with identifying individuals perceived as collaborators with Israel, safeguarding senior Hamas officials, and suppressing dissent within the territory. Additionally, the unit gathers intelligence to inform decision-making for Hamas leaders, while Jahjouh also oversaw the group’s internal propaganda efforts.
In a separate operation, the IDF reported the killing of a prominent operative from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), identified as Ismail Abd al-Alal, who was allegedly involved in significant weapons smuggling operations for the group in recent years.
These airstrikes mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, with more than 400 Palestinians reported killed in one of the deadliest episodes since hostilities reignited in October 2023. This surge in violence has effectively shattered a ceasefire that had largely held since January.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military confirmed the resumption of ground operations in both the central and southern regions of the Gaza Strip, further intensifying the situation in the area.
