Gaza sources cited by Israeli journalist Sapir Lipkin report that Ahmad al-Batsh (Abu Osama), a commander in the Hamas military wing, was killed in a precision strike on a vehicle in Gaza City early Tuesday. The Zioneer reported earlier tonight that the strike occurred in the Al-Saftawi neighborhood of northern Gaza City and targeted al-Batsh, who was also described as head of Hamas intelligence for northern Gaza. The IDF has not officially commented.
Just after midnight Tuesday, a precision strike in the Al-Saftawi neighborhood of northern Gaza City killed Ahmad al-Batsh (Abu Osama), a commander in the Hamas military wing, according to Gaza sources cited by Israeli journalist Sapir Lipkin. The Zioneer had reported earlier Monday at 23:53 Jerusalem that the strike targeted al-Batsh, whom Gaza sources described as the head of Hamas intelligence for the northern Gaza Strip. Tonight's reports further identify him as a military wing commander, adding operational specificity to the earlier intelligence assessment.
The elimination is the latest in a sustained campaign of targeted strikes against Hamas's command echelon in Gaza City. As The Zioneer has reported: on September 9, Hamas confirmed the death of senior operative Farah Hamed, a member of the Al-Qassam Military Council, in a strike in the Sheikh Ijlin neighborhood. On September 6, Yosef Akila, a high-ranking commander, was eliminated in a strike near the Hamid junction. Earlier, on July 9, Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem was critically wounded in a strike in western Gaza City. These operations are part of the IDF's ongoing effort to degrade the terror group's military infrastructure in northern Gaza.
The IDF has not officially commented on tonight's strike, and Hamas has not issued a statement. The precise scope of al-Batsh's role and rank continues to be assessed as further details emerge from Gaza sources.
3 developments
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- StrongIDF and Shin Bet kill two Hamas commanders in Gaza, including Nukhba cell leader
- StrongHamas military wing confirms death of Shati Battalion field commander Muhammad Mushtaha
- StrongIDF and Shin Bet eliminate Hamas Oct. 7 infiltrator Jamal Abu Kamil in Gaza City
Source and signal
- Open-source intake