IDF Eliminated Hamas's Rafah Brigade Commander After Long Surveillance

The Israeli military eliminated Na'el Abu Abid, the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade and head of the organization's operations division, in an airstrike in southern Gaza. The Southern Command had been tracking Abu Abid for an extended period, attempting to assassinate him on several occasions. The IDF stated that intelligence efforts finally pinpointed his location when he was not in the vicinity of civilians, prompting the decision to carry out the strike.

According to the IDF, Abu Abid was responsible for restoring the military readiness of the Rafah Brigade and was involved in advancing terrorist attack plans. He was also implicated in efforts related to the hostage situation. The military emphasized that Abu Abid was a senior terrorist whose hands were "covered in blood" and who had led operations against IDF forces during the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the strike, stating, "No terrorist is immune, and Hamas will not be in Gaza." Defense Minister Yoav Gallant affirmed the operation, noting that the commander "advanced terrorist plans against our forces." He reiterated the policy of targeting terrorists while avoiding civilian casualties.

This assassination is part of a series of strikes against senior figures in Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad in recent days. These include the elimination of the Khan Younis Brigade commander, a commander in Hamas's Jabalia battalion, and operatives involved in weapons development. The IDF also reported eliminating a head of a rocket cell in Islamic Jihad who allegedly participated in the October 7th attack.