Hamas confirms senior commander killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Investing.com -- Hamas confirmed Sunday that senior military commander Samir Abu Younis, who helped plan the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza on Saturday.

Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, identified Abu Younis, 53, as the commander of its Rafah brigade and confirmed his death in a statement.

The Israeli military separately said it had targeted a senior commander in Hamas’ armed wing but did not identify the individual.

Medical officials said Abu Younis was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a street in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, injuring several other people.

According to Hamas, Abu Younis joined its military wing in 1991 and subsequently held several senior operational positions in Rafah before assuming command of the brigade.

The group said he had played a role in planning and overseeing the October 7 assault that triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

Hamas announced that his funeral would take place Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis.

The killing comes amid continued tensions in Gaza, where an October 2025 ceasefire ended major combat operations but has failed to prevent further Israeli strikes.

The agreement has also not resulted in Hamas’ disarmament, a major unresolved issue in efforts to establish a lasting cessation of hostilities.

Gaza health authorities say Israeli military operations have killed at least 1,600 Palestinians since the ceasefire took effect.

Five Israeli soldiers have also been killed during the same period, according to the reported figures.

The broader conflict began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people.

Palestinian authorities report that more than 74,000 people have been killed during Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.

The latest strike highlights the continuing security challenges surrounding the ceasefire, with Israeli operations against Hamas commanders continuing more than a year after the agreement took effect.