Israel kills five senior Hamas officials in Rafah operation, IDF announces

• Published date: 20 March 2024
• Author: YONAH JEREMY BOB
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The senior officials ran Hamas's Rafah Emergency Bureau, managing the terrorist group's military and governance activities in humanitarian zones, as well as coordinating with operatives in the field

They were identified as Nidal Aleed, the head of the operation; Hdi Abu Alrus Kasin, an operations officer; Muhammad Aud Almelalakhi and Osama Hamd Zaher, responsible for eastern Rafah; and Sayid Katab Alkhashash, responsible for northern Rafah.

The IDF and Shin Bet operation at Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza continued for the third straight day on Wednesday. Ninety terrorists were killed, and 160 were apprehended, the IDF said.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi visited Shifa and praised the forces.

Other recent operations in Gaza

Troops from the 215th Combat Brigade directed an IAF aircraft to strike and kill six terrorists in Jabalya in northern Gaza.

In Khan Yunis, troops killed two terrorists and hit military sites in al-Qarara.

"The year 2024 will be one of war and victory," Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday. "We need to draft all... sectors of the nation and of society to ensure our qualitative and quantitative advantages" against Israel's adversaries.

In the West Bank, the IDF said it carried out a targeted attack on a vehicle in Jenin on Wednesday. Three terrorists were killed, including the one responsible for the death of Meir Tamari near Hermesh last May.

In the North, the IDF attacked several Hezbollah positions on Wednesday, including the Hula, Kfar Kila, and Yaroun areas. Hezbollah fired several rockets at Yaron, Mount Dov, Misgav Am, and Margaliot. In response, the IDF attacked the sources of the rockets.

The IDF released a video on Wednesday of IAF fighter jets in attacks a few weeks ago against a Hezbollah weapons depot in the Baalbek region of Lebanon, some 100 kilometers away from the Israeli...