JNS: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday that an airstrike conducted three months ago resulted in the deaths of three high-ranking Hamas officials in Gaza. This revelation comes as Israeli forces continue confrontations with Palestinian operatives in the region, a situation that has persisted for nearly a year.
The military reported that the airstrike eliminated Rawhi Mushtaha, the head of Hamas’s government in Gaza; Sameh al-Siraj, responsible for security within Hamas’s political bureau; and Sami Oudeh, a commander within the organization, according to news agency AFP.
The IDF emphasized Mushtaha’s significant influence, noting his direct impact on decisions related to Hamas’s force deployment. He was described as the “right-hand man” of Yahya Sinwar, the top leader of Hamas. In 2015, the U.S. State Department designated Mushtaha as a “specially designated global terrorist.”
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) identified Mushtaha as a key figure within Hamas’s Gaza politburo, also managing the group’s financial operations. Al-Siraj was noted to hold a position in the politburo, while Oudeh led Hamas’s internal security agency.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Hamas has reportedly caused significant damage to the organization, undermining its operational capabilities through the elimination of multiple leaders and thousands of fighters, while also resulting in extensive destruction across Gaza.
The current conflict began following a Hamas assault on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 individuals in Israel, predominantly civilians. This figure, compiled by AFP based on Israeli data, includes hostages killed while in captivity.
In retaliation, Israel’s offensive has reportedly led to at least 41,788 deaths in Gaza, the majority of whom are civilians, according to the Hamas-controlled territory’s health ministry. The United Nations has described these casualty figures as reliable.
The IDF reiterated the importance of Mushtaha’s role, stating, “He was one of Hamas’ most senior operatives and had a direct impact on decisions relating to Hamas’ force deployment.”
