IDF and Shin Bet Announce Elimination of Hamas Operations Chief

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet announced Wednesday that they eliminated Jamal Abu Said, identified as the head of operations in Hamas's military intelligence, in an airstrike in Gaza City earlier this week. Abu Said was responsible for holding Omer Shem Tov captive in the Gaza Strip after he was abducted during the October 7th attack. Shem Tov was later released.

According to the IDF and Shin Bet, Abu Said held several senior positions within the terror organization over the years, including commander of an anti-tank missile battalion and head of military specializations for the Central Camps Brigade. He was also involved in training operatives outside Gaza and managing Hamas's relations with various countries. The IDF described him as a significant source of knowledge for the organization.

Security officials noted that throughout the war, and particularly recently, Abu Said worked to restore Hamas's capabilities and advance terror plans against IDF forces and Israeli civilians, systematically violating ceasefire agreements. This activity led to the decision to eliminate him via an airstrike.

The IDF and Shin Bet emphasized that forces continue to operate in accordance with agreements and to remove any security threat.