\n<\/p>\n
The Israeli military said on Sunday its forces had struck a senior militant from Hamas\u2019s military wing, which confirmed the death of one of its commanders in Gaza.<\/strong><\/p>\n Samir Abu Younis, a military leader who played a key role in planning Hamas\u2019s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, was killed on Saturday, according to a statement from the Islamist movement\u2019s Al-Qassam Brigade.<\/p>\n \u201cA short while ago, the IDF and ISA struck a senior terrorist in Hamas\u2019 military wing,\u201d the Israeli military said in a joint statement with internal security agency Shin Bet, in the early hours of Sunday morning.<\/p>\n It did not elaborate but said it would later provide further details.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was killed yesterday evening\u2026 in a cowardly assassination operation,\u201d the Al-Qassam Brigade posted on Telegram, adding Younis was \u201camong the most important commanders involved in the planning and supervision of the 7 October attack.\u201d<\/p>\n A security source told AFP shortly after midnight that Younis, the commander of Al-Qassam\u2019s Rafah Brigade, died in a strike \u201ctargeting him moments ago in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis.\u201d<\/p>\n Gaza\u2019s civil defence spokesman, Mahmoud Bassal, told AFP the agency had received the body of Younis, 53, and said two people were wounded in the strike in Gaza\u2019s south.<\/p>\n Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire that came into effect in October 2025, after two years of war triggered by the October 7 attack.<\/p>\n While the US-backed ceasefire has largely subdued the fighting, Israel has kept up regular strikes in the territory.<\/p>\n More than 1,600 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the ceasefire, according to the Gaza health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.<\/p>\n During the same period, the Israeli military has reported the loss of seven soldiers, as well as one civilian contractor.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s former army chief Gadi Eisenkot is currently locked in negotiations to form a governing coalition while his rival, caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, remains responsible for military operations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n