The IDF eliminated the nephew of former Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, who participated in the abduction of Israelis on October 7, i24NEWS reports. The report, published Saturday evening, provides no further details on location, time, or the specific operation.
The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet confirmed Saturday evening that they eliminated Waleed Haniyeh — a nephew of former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh — and provided the most specific account yet of his role in the October 7 attacks. In a joint statement published at 20:36 Jerusalem, the military stated that Haniyeh commanded a cell that infiltrated Israel on October 7 and directed another cell that kidnapped Israeli civilians. The announcement also noted that in recent months he had recruited new operatives and trained Nukhba fighters under his command. This marks the third iteration of the military's account: an initial bulletin at 20:36 identified Haniyeh as a deputy Nukhba commander who led an October 7 infiltration cell; a second version at the same time added that he was a nephew of Ismail Haniyeh; the final version, also at 20:36, specified he commanded the infiltration cell and directed a kidnapping operation. The confirmation follows unverified reports of his death and a funeral held Friday, as The Zioneer previously reported. The elimination comes amid a volatile regional backdrop: Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem continues to reject the US-brokered Israel-Lebanon framework agreement, which he called 'humiliating and void' (as The Zioneer reported earlier Saturday). The desk is aware of no further operational details — such as the exact location or method of the strike — beyond what the military has released.
7 developments
- DevelopingHamas Nukhba operative Waleed Haniyeh buried amid gunfire and anti-Israel chants
- StrongFuneral of Ismail Haniyeh's nephew chants 'October 7th will return'
- DevelopingIDF strike kills Hamas cell leader in southern Gaza; 8 reported dead in tent camp attack
- DevelopingIDF strike kills third Hamas operative tied to hostage holding, security source says
Source and signal
- Internal intake