Jerusalem: In a high-stakes military operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have confirmed the targeted killing of three top Hamas commanders who played key roles in the October 7, 2023, terrorist assault on Israel. The precision airstrike was carried out in the Gaza Strip and is being hailed by Israeli officials as a critical success in their continued efforts to dismantle Hamas’s leadership hierarchy and bring justice to victims of one of the deadliest attacks in the nation’s history.
Among those killed is Muhammad Nasr Ali Quneita, a high-ranking figure in Hamas’s Al-Furqan military intelligence unit. Quneita gained international notoriety for allegedly holding British-Israeli national Emily Damari hostage during the October 7 attacks. He was believed to be deeply involved in planning the abductions and coordinating field movements on that day. His death marks a significant blow to Hamas’s strategic and intelligence operations.
Another key figure eliminated in the operation was Izz al-Din al-Haddad, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Suhaib. Al-Haddad had recently assumed a senior leadership role in Hamas’s military wing following the death of top commander Mohammed Sinwar. As a battlefield strategist, he was considered instrumental in restructuring Hamas’s military capabilities during the ongoing conflict. Intelligence sources indicate that he was actively engaged in planning future attacks and maintaining supply chains through the tunnel networks in Gaza.
The third commander killed was Marwan Issa, long regarded as a deputy commander of the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. Issa had survived multiple Israeli assassination attempts in the past and was widely viewed as a key architect behind Hamas’s guerilla-style warfare, underground bunkers, and urban combat tactics. His death is seen as both a tactical and symbolic win for the Israeli defense establishment.
The IDF said the strike was based on months of intelligence coordination and satellite surveillance. “This is a direct message to those who orchestrated the October 7 massacre,” said an Israeli military spokesperson. “We will hunt them down, no matter where they hide.”
Since October 7, when more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 civilians were taken hostage, Israel has maintained a relentless pursuit of Hamas leadership. The IDF’s broader campaign, which includes airstrikes, ground operations, and intelligence raids, has seen the deaths of numerous mid- and top-level commanders over the past several months.
While the latest operation is seen as a major disruption to Hamas’s chain of command, military analysts warn that the group’s decentralized structure may allow it to regroup. Moreover, the IDF has indicated that Hamas continues to shift its focus toward kidnapping Israeli soldiers to gain bargaining power for prisoner exchanges a move that has only heightened Israel’s urgency to neutralize its senior leadership.
As the war drags on, diplomatic channels remain largely stagnant, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate. However, for Israel, the targeted assassinations are viewed not only as acts of national defense but as a moral imperative to uphold justice for the victims of October 7.