Israeli forces Announced Tuesday the elimination of Mahmoud Hamdan, the commander of Hamas’s Tel Sultan Battalion, in a drone strike in the Gaza Strip several weeks ago. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that Hamdan, along with three other senior commanders, was targeted in a joint operation between the IDF and the Shin Bet security agency.
According to the IDF, Hamdan played a critical role in advancing plans for Hamas’s Rafah Brigade and led several terrorist operations targeting Israeli troops and civilians. The IDF stated that the airstrike in which Hamdan was killed also eliminated several other top Hamas commanders, including Samer Ismail Khadr Abu Daqqa, head of Hamas’s aerial unit, and Osama Tabesh, head of the group’s military intelligence observation and targets department. The IDF released video footage showing the moment the precision strikes reportedly hit the commanders.
BREAKING: The IDF and Shin Bet ELIMINATE the entire leadership of the ‘Tel Sultan’ battalion!
Mahmoud Hamdan, mastermind behind the October 7 attack and countless terror plots, is DEAD along with his top commanders. Terror crushed. pic.twitter.com/AXI1m5KFeV
— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) September 10, 2024
The strike occurred in the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone in southern Gaza. Initial reports from Palestinian sources suggested that 40 individuals had been killed, a claim that was later revised to 19 by the Hamas-run Gazan health ministry. Israel promptly disputed the initial casualty figures, emphasizing the precision of the strike, which it claimed was focused on Hamas operatives who had been using humanitarian areas and tunnels to hide.
According to the IDF, the strike effectively eliminated the battalion’s chain of command, weakening Hamas’s military capabilities and specifically the “Tel Sultan” Battalion. The military also indicated that it would continue targeting Hamas operatives hiding within civilian areas. The IDF has stated that Hamas operatives have been attempting to regroup and rebuild their northern battalions, particularly in central and northern Gaza, prompting further Israeli military action.
Expanded Coverage:
