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Senior Hamas Leader Rawhi Mushtaha Killed in IDF Airstrike in Gaza
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that Rawhi Mushtaha, a senior leader in Hamas’s political bureau and head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. Mushtaha, who was one of Hamas’s most influential figures, was targeted along with two other top Hamas operatives, Sameh al-Siraj and Sami Oudeh, as part of Israel’s ongoing military operations against the terror group.
IDF Targets High-Ranking Hamas Officials
According to the IDF, Mushtaha, a key decision-maker within Hamas, played a pivotal role in establishing Hamas’s General Security Mechanism alongside Yahya Sinwar. The two had previously served a prison sentence together in an Israeli jail and were closely connected in coordinating the group’s military and political strategies. Mushtaha was also involved in making operational decisions during the ongoing conflict while maintaining civil control of the Hamas regime in Gaza.
The IDF described Mushtaha as Sinwar’s right-hand man and stated that he was actively engaged in terrorist activities against Israel. Mushtaha’s responsibilities included oversight of Hamas’s Prisoners Affairs Portfolio, and he previously held the finance portfolio in the organization.
Other Key Hamas Operatives Eliminated
The airstrike also resulted in the deaths of Sameh al-Siraj, responsible for Hamas’s security portfolio and Labor Committee, and Sami Oudeh, commander of Hamas’s General Security Mechanism. The IDF stated that the operation was carried out based on precise intelligence from the IDF and Shin Bet, targeting the leaders who were hiding in a fortified underground command center in northern Gaza.
Hamas Command Center Destroyed
The IDF noted that the underground compound, where the Hamas leaders were hiding, served as a command and control center. The facility was equipped to allow Hamas leaders and operatives to remain concealed for extended periods, coordinating operations and strategizing against Israel. The elimination of Mushtaha and other senior operatives is a significant blow to Hamas’s command structure in Gaza.
The IDF emphasized that the operation was part of its broader efforts to weaken Hamas’s operational capabilities and disrupt its leadership during the ongoing conflict in the region. The strike marks a major development in Israel’s campaign to neutralize top Hamas figures and dismantle the group’s military infrastructure in Gaza.
