Senior Hamas commander Samir Abu Younis killed in Israeli strike in Gaza

The Israeli military stated that it struck a senior commander belonging to the armed wing of Hamas. Hamas sources confirmed that the strike killed senior armed commander Samir Abu Younis in Khan Younis.

Funeral Plans

Hamas later confirmed the death of Abu Younis and announced that his funeral would take place on Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. Medics reported that Abu Younis and several others were wounded in an airstrike targeting him on a street in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, where he ultimately died.

Background

Abu Younis was 53 years old and commanded the Rafah brigade in the armed wing of Hamas. He had been a member of the Al-Qassam Brigades since 1991 and held multiple senior operational roles in Rafah throughout his time there.

Context

An October 2025 ceasefire previously halted major fighting in the region, but it has not stopped ongoing Israeli attacks or secured the disarmament of Hamas. Gaza health authorities report that at least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed since that ceasefire went into effect, while five Israeli soldiers have also died during the same period.