IDF Says It Killed Two Senior Gaza Operatives in Targeted Strikes

The IDF said Monday that it carried out targeted strikes in northern Gaza over the weekend, killing two senior militants: Ahmed Munir Khalil Zaza and Hussein Safadi. The army said both were involved in developing attack plans against Israeli forces and were operating in violation of the ceasefire agreement.

According to the military, Zaza served as the engineering chief of the West Jabaliya battalion in the Gaza City area. He was responsible for producing and distributing weapons among terrorist cells, overseeing the construction of explosives and booby-trapped houses, and recently tried to plant bombs near the "yellow line" to hit IDF soldiers.

Safadi was identified as the commander of the sniper array in Gaza City. The IDF said he had overseen sniper attacks against Israeli troops throughout the war, systematically violated the ceasefire, and worked to train additional militants to carry out new sniper operations.

The strikes were described as part of an ongoing effort by Southern Command to remove immediate threats and damage the engineering and sniper infrastructure operating in Gaza City and Jabaliya. Separately, Defense Minister Israel Katz said last week on "The Patriots" that Israeli policy has shifted toward permanent military control and the destruction of infrastructure above and below ground in more than 60% of the Strip. He also said that, when the time comes, Israel will establish Nahal settlement blocs in Gaza, Dugit, Nisanit and Eli Sinai, describing them as a combined military and civilian force to protect communities. "There is justice in it and wisdom in it," Katz said.