Three Hamas sources confirmed to the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat that Na'el Abu Obeid, commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade, was eliminated Tuesday night in a precision strike on a tent in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. The sources said he was alone in the tent; a girl passing by was also killed. Abu Obeid, a senior figure with a doctorate, was involved in the 2006 abduction of Gilad Shalit and the security of Israeli hostages during the war.
Na'el Abu Obeid, the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade and head of its operations array, was eliminated Tuesday night in a precision airstrike on a tent in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, three Hamas sources confirmed to the Saudi daily Asharq Al-Awsat on Wednesday. The new report provides operational details not previously disclosed: the strike was carried out with two missiles on an isolated tent, and a civilian girl passing by was killed. This marks the first acknowledgment by Hamas sources of the elimination, following official Israeli confirmations on Tuesday evening.
The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed the elimination at 22:11 Jerusalem on Tuesday, stating that Abu Obeid was responsible for directing the brigade's terrorist activity and attempts to rebuild its capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement declaring, "No terrorist is immune, and Hamas will not be in Gaza." The confirmation chain began earlier Tuesday evening with a statement from Defense Minister Katz, followed by IDF details on Abu Obeid's role as deputy commander and battalion leader. On Wednesday morning, security analyst Yair Goldblatt published additional footage of the strike.
Abu Obeid, who held a doctorate, succeeded Muhammad Shabana as Rafah Brigade commander after Shabana was eliminated approximately 18 months ago. He also served as head of the operations array of the Al-Qassam Brigades, placing him at the center of coordinating tactical maneuvers, according to security officials. As The Zioneer reported earlier, Abu Obeid was involved in the 2006 abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, was responsible for securing Israeli hostages held in Gaza, and oversaw their transfer during exchanges. He also played a role in a 2014 attempted tunnel infiltration aimed at abducting Israeli soldiers near Rafah. The elimination is part of a broader systematic effort by the IDF to dismantle Hamas's military hierarchy in southern Gaza, following the recent elimination of the Khan Younis brigade commander and other senior operatives.
The report of a civilian girl killed in the strike remains unverified by independent sources, and no further details on her identity have been released.
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