The Lead
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Thursday night the elimination of Farah Hamad, a veteran Hamas operative and senior member of the organization's 'West Bank Headquarters' who continued to direct terror activities in Judea and Samaria following his release in the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal.
The IDF, in a joint announcement with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police, confirmed the elimination of Farah Hamad, a high-ranking member of the Hamas military wing. Hamad was a central figure in the organization's 'West Bank Headquarters,' a unit dedicated to orchestrating and funding terror cells within Judea and Samaria from the safety of the Gaza Strip.
A History of Deadly Attacks
Hamad's involvement in terrorism dates back decades as a prominent member of the 'Silwad cell.' He was a key architect of several significant attacks in the Binyamin region, most notably the October 2003 shooting ambush in Ein Yabroud. That attack resulted in the deaths of three IDF soldiers: Sgt. Elad Pollack, Sgt. Roi Yaakov Solomon, and St.-Sgt. Erez Idan. In addition to targeting military personnel, Hamad was responsible for the murders of three Israeli civilians in separate terror incidents.
Following his capture by Israeli security forces, Hamad was sentenced to multiple life terms for his role in these killings. However, he was among the prisoners released and deported to Gaza in 2011 as part of the deal to secure the return of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Continued Operations from Gaza
Rather than abandoning terror, the IDF reports that Hamad utilized his relocation to Gaza to deepen his involvement in the Hamas military apparatus. He focused on the recruitment and direction of operatives in Judea and Samaria, leveraging his local knowledge to promote new terror plots. During the current conflict, Hamad also took an active role in fighting against IDF forces within the Gaza Strip.
The military noted that the strike was carried out using precise munitions and aerial surveillance to mitigate harm to non-combatants. The elimination of such a veteran operative represents a significant disruption to Hamas's ability to coordinate its regional headquarters and maintain continuity between its Gazan leadership and its cells in Judea and Samaria. The Zioneer will continue to follow official updates as the security situation develops.
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