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IDF kills three top Hamas terrorists hiding in humanitarian zone

The overnight precision airstrike hit a Hamas command and control center in the al-Mawasi tent encampment.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The IDF killed several Hamas terrorists in the early hours of Tuesday morning in an airstrike targeting a command and control center in the Al Mawasi humanitarian zone.

Qatar-based Al Jazeera reported that three senior terrorists were killed, and named them as Ayman Mabhouh, Samer Tabash and Samer Abu Dakah.

The IDF announced around 1:30 AM that its jets had attacked “important terrorists” who worked out of the center, which was hidden in the coastal zone set up west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza for tens of thousands of Gazan civilians to escape the fighting in the Strip.

These operatives had “promoted and deployed terror plots against IDF troops and Israeli civilians,” the army said.

To protect itself, Hamas usually embeds its military forces among civilians, as it knows that Israel will not knowingly harm noncombatants. This tactic is considered a war crime by international law.

The air force was guided to its target by military intelligence and the Shabak, the IDF spokesperson said.

“Before the attack, many steps were taken to minimize the risk of hurting civilians,” the army noted, “including the use of precision weaponry, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence information.”

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Hamas claimed that 40 people were killed in the night attack, including women and children who were sleeping at the time, and that 60 others were wounded.

It also denied having its operatives in the area, calling it “a blatant lie.”

Palestinian news agency Shehab reported that the airstrike left three huge craters in the ground.

It cited witnesses who said at least four missiles struck the site, burying victims under the sand. Palestinian rescuers said they didn’t have the proper equipment to dig people out.

The Palestinians said there was no warning given ahead of the strike.

Before entering specific areas that will become battle zones, the IDF usually warns the civilians living there to flee for their own safety, even though this gives up the element of surprise that can help ensure the success of the operation.

The IDF has targeted specific areas in the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone before in order to eliminate Hamas terrorists.

In a July airstrike, IAF jets hit a compound in the zone and successfully assassinated the second-most important Hamas military leader, Mohammed Deif, who masterminded together with Hamas head Yahya Sinwar the organization’s October 7 invasion of Israel in which 1,200 people were massacred and 251 taken hostage.

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The airstrike also eliminated the Khan Younis Brigade commander, Rafa’a Salameh.

Hamas claimed that 90 people were killed in that attack. The terrorists do not differentiate between its fighters and civilians when announcing death tolls.