Israel strikes kill senior Hamas commanders in Gaza operations

The Israeli military announced Thursday it had conducted strikes in Gaza that killed two senior Hamas commanders, operations it said were in response to alleged violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Palestinian group. The targeted operations represent a significant escalation amid the fragile truce that has been in place in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Targets of the Israeli Strikes

In a joint statement with the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), the military identified the two Hamas figures killed in Wednesday's operations as Abdallah Abu Shamala, described as the head of Hamas' Naval Array, and Fadi Abu Mustafa, identified as the chief constructor of the tunnel network for the Khan Yunis Brigade. The statement further accused Abu Mustafa of direct involvement in holding Israeli hostages captive, naming Nimrod Cohen and David Cunio among those under his supervision.

Separate Operation for Hostage Remains

In a related development, Israeli authorities revealed details of a separate operation conducted in July that led to the apprehension of Hamas member Marwan al-Hams. According to the military statement, al-Hams was involved in determining the fate of Lt. Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed during the 2014 Gaza war, and was believed to possess knowledge about the location of Goldin's remains in a tunnel network in Rafah. The operation was described as part of dozens of confidential missions conducted over the past six months aimed at retrieving the soldier's remains for burial in Israel.

Context of Ongoing Ceasefire Violations

These military actions come amid ongoing tensions over alleged breaches of the ceasefire agreement that has been periodically extended since its initial implementation. The Israeli statements did not provide specific details about the nature of the alleged violations that prompted the strikes. The elimination of two senior Hamas commanders marks one of the most significant military actions publicly acknowledged by Israel since the ceasefire took effect, raising concerns about the stability of the truce arrangement.