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

Samir Abu Younis, a top Hamas commander who helped plan the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza on Saturday. Both Israeli officials and Hamas confirmed his death.

The Strike and Casualties

The strike hit a tent in the Al-Waha camp in Al-Mawasi, an area sheltering hundreds of displaced people. Eyewitnesses said four missiles struck the tent and caused a fire. A medical source at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis stated that one dead body and three injured people arrived following the attack.

Official Statements

The Israel Defence Forces and the ISA stated they targeted Younis, noting that steps were taken to reduce civilian harm before the strike. The military described him as a central figure who tried to rebuild the strength of the Hamas group and directed attacks against Israeli civilians and troops. Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades called the killing a cowardly assassination and stated Younis had led numerous operations. Younis, 53, took up his role as Rafah Brigade commander on 15 September after the death of the previous commander, Nael Abu Obeid. His funeral is scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis.

Context

This incident takes place against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Gaza triggered by the October 2023 attacks, which led to high casualties across the region. Despite a ceasefire reached last October, Israel maintains that it retains the right to carry out occasional strikes against remaining militants.