The Israel Defense Forces has announced the deaths of two Hamas operatives in separate strikes in the Gaza Strip, including a sniper in southern Gaza and a military-wing commander whom Israeli authorities accuse of involvement in holding nine hostages.
The announcements were made on September 27 and 28, with the IDF saying both men had recently been involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas capabilities and advance attacks during the ceasefire.
IDF Announces Death of Hamas Sniper in Southern Gaza
The Israeli military said a strike carried out in southern Gaza on Sunday killed Adi Adli Abd Al-Aaser, whom it identified as a sniper serving in Hamas’ military wing.
According to the IDF, Al-Aaser had recently been involved in preparing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.
The military also accused him of participating in efforts to restore Hamas’ operational capabilities, describing those activities as a systematic violation of the ceasefire.
The allegations concerning Al-Aaser’s activities are based on the Israeli military’s account.
Israel Says Strike Was Intended to Remove ‘Immediate Threat’
The IDF characterised Al-Aaser as an immediate security threat and said the strike was conducted to eliminate that threat.
Independent reporting on Monday confirmed that the military publicly identified Al-Aaser as the target of the southern Gaza strike, while repeating the IDF’s allegation that he was involved in planning attacks and rebuilding Hamas capabilities.
The military did not provide extensive public details about the specific attacks it alleged Al-Aaser had been preparing.
Hamas Commander Muhammad Gabain Killed in Earlier Strike
The announcement concerning Al-Aaser followed another Israeli statement regarding Muhammad Hamad Muhammad Gabain, a commander in Hamas’ military wing.
The IDF and Israel Security Agency, also known as Shin Bet, said Gabain had been killed in an airstrike in northern Gaza the previous Tuesday.
His death was publicly announced on September 27.
IDF Links Gabain to Captivity of Nine Hostages
Israeli authorities accused Gabain of involvement in holding nine people hostage in Gaza during the war.
The nine were identified as Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Eitan Mor, Liri Albag, Agam Berger, Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Keith Siegel and Alon Ohel.
The IDF did not say in its announcement that Gabain personally captured all nine. Its claim specifically concerned his alleged involvement in holding them during their captivity.
Several Prominent Hostage Names Included in IDF Statement
Among those named were twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, as well as Liri Albag, Agam Berger and Keith Siegel.
The military said Gabain’s involvement with the nine hostages occurred during the course of the war.
Reporting on the Israeli announcement similarly described Gabain as a Hamas commander allegedly connected to the captivity of the nine Israelis.
IDF Accuses Gabain of Planning Further Attacks
Israeli authorities said Gabain’s alleged activities had continued beyond his involvement with hostages.
The IDF accused him of recently advancing attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians.
It also claimed that he was working to restore Hamas’ capabilities despite the ceasefire.
According to the military, the northern Gaza strike was carried out because Israeli authorities considered Gabain an ongoing threat.
Israeli Military Focuses on Hamas Rebuilding Efforts
The two announcements share a common theme in Israel’s explanation for the strikes.
In both cases, the IDF alleged that the targeted men were participating in efforts to rebuild Hamas’ military capabilities while simultaneously advancing attacks against Israeli forces or civilians.
The military characterised those alleged activities as violations of the ceasefire and presented the strikes as operations intended to remove active threats.
Two Strikes Target Different Hamas Roles
While the Israeli military linked both men to Hamas’ military wing, their alleged roles were different.
Al-Aaser was identified as a sniper operating in southern Gaza, while Gabain was described as a commander who had been involved in holding hostages.
The IDF’s latest announcements indicate that Israel continues to target individuals it says are involved in rebuilding Hamas’ operational structure during the ceasefire.
The specific allegations against the two men largely originate from Israeli military and security authorities and have not been independently established in the material reviewed.
