IDF and Shin Bet report eliminating six operatives in Khan Yunis
The IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) said they eliminated six operatives from terrorist organizations in aerial strikes in the Khan Yunis area earlier this week.
In two strikes on Monday, they said they eliminated Mahmoud Jihad Mohammad Qafa, head of a sniper cell in Hamas’ military wing, and Asaad Suleiman Salman Qashta, an Army of Islam terrorist who facilitated smuggling into the Gaza Strip.
In an additional strike on Sunday, they said they eliminated four Hamas and Islamic Jihad operatives: Mohammad Zakaria Al-Jamal, head of a cell in Hamas’ military wing; Mohammad Amin Al-Namas, an operative in Hamas’ military wing; Shaher Mohammad Zaarab, a Nukhba company commander in Hamas’ military wing; and Mohammad Ali Abu Shaar, an Islamic Jihad sniper operative.
The IDF and Shin Bet said the six had advanced terrorist plots against Israeli soldiers and civilians throughout the war, particularly recently, and worked to restore their organizations’ capabilities while systematically violating the ceasefire. They said the strikes removed the threat the operatives posed.
Hamas official who held Omer Shem Tov eliminated, military says
The IDF and Shin Bet said a separate strike in Gaza City on Sunday eliminated Jamal Abu Saeed, described as head of operations in Hamas’ military intelligence apparatus and as head of the Operations Department in its military wing. They said Abu Saeed held Omer Shem Tov in Hamas captivity during the war.
According to the announcement, Abu Saeed had held several senior Hamas positions over the years, including overseeing the training of operatives outside the Gaza Strip, serving as an anti-tank battalion commander and overseeing military specialization in Hamas’ Central Brigade.
He was also responsible for Hamas’ relations with various countries and served as a significant source of knowledge for the organization, the IDF and Shin Bet said.
They said Abu Saeed had advanced terrorist plots against Israeli troops and civilians throughout the war, particularly recently, and worked to restore Hamas’ capabilities while systematically violating the ceasefire. They said the aerial strike removed the threat he posed.
Security alert cleared before presidential consultations
Entry to the President’s Residence was temporarily suspended minutes before the consultation round after an X-ray scanner triggered an alert during visitor screening. Police bomb disposal experts were called to inspect the equipment, with the matter investigated in coordination with the relevant authorities.
Police subsequently said bomb disposal experts and security personnel had completed their inspection and ruled out the suspicion. President Isaac Herzog then began consultations with political parties on selecting the next prime minister.
Report identifies Odeh in foreign-cash investigation
According to Greenzeig, Ayman Odeh is the Knesset member being investigated over whether he received hundreds of thousands of shekels in cash from a foreign source.
Odeh responded:
“This is political persecution that will soon turn into an overinflated balloon and blow up right in their faces.”
