The Israeli military says it has killed Hamas military commander Ammar Mahmoud Muhammad Sharafi in an airstrike in Gaza, accusing him of continuing to plan attacks and attempting to rebuild the group’s military capabilities during the ceasefire.
The Israel Defense Forces announced Sharafi’s death on Thursday, October 1, saying the operation was carried out because he continued to represent a threat to Israeli civilians and troops. Israeli media reported that the strike took place in Gaza City a day earlier.
IDF Identifies Sharafi as Hamas Military Commander
According to the IDF, Sharafi held a command position within Hamas’ military wing. The military’s social media statement described him as a platoon commander, while a Times of Israel report referred to him as a company commander.
Israel said Sharafi had recently been involved in advancing plans for attacks targeting both Israeli civilians and IDF personnel.
The military did not provide detailed evidence in its brief announcement outlining the specific operations it alleged Sharafi had been preparing.
Israel Accuses Commander of Rebuilding Hamas Capabilities
Beyond the alleged planning of attacks, the IDF accused Sharafi of working to restore Hamas’ operational capabilities.
Israeli authorities have repeatedly said they are acting against Hamas members whom they accuse of attempting to rebuild the group’s military infrastructure and operational capacity.
The IDF characterized Sharafi’s alleged activities as a systematic violation of the existing ceasefire agreement.
Strike Reportedly Carried Out in Gaza City
Israeli media reported that Sharafi was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Wednesday, September 30.
The Times of Israel reported, citing Palestinian media, that four people were killed in the Gaza City strike. The IDF’s statement highlighted Sharafi as the intended target but did not provide further details about the identities or status of the other reported casualties.
IDF Says Strike Was Intended to Remove Continuing Threat
The Israeli military said its decision to target Sharafi was based on its assessment that his activities posed an ongoing security threat.
The IDF said the operation was conducted to remove that threat, framing the strike as part of its efforts to respond to what it considers violations of the ceasefire by Hamas.
Hamas did not appear to have issued an independently verified account addressing the specific Israeli allegations against Sharafi at the time of the announcement.
Ceasefire Remains Under Pressure
The killing comes as Israel continues to accuse Hamas members of breaching ceasefire conditions by attempting to restore military capabilities and prepare attacks.
Recent IDF statements have similarly accused Hamas operatives in Gaza of working on attack plans targeting Israeli troops and civilians while rebuilding the organization’s capabilities, describing such activity as violations of the ceasefire.
Sharafi’s killing therefore adds to continuing tensions surrounding implementation of the agreement, with Israeli forces maintaining that they will act against individuals they assess as posing an immediate security threat.
