The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed Monday the killing of Wael Musa Khaled Ladawi, commander of Hamas's internal security in the central Gaza camps, in a strike yesterday in Deir al-Balah. The joint statement describes the internal security mechanism as a secretive unit that collected intelligence for senior Hamas officials to advance terror plots.
The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed Monday evening that the target of Sunday's precision strike in Deir al-Balah was Wael Musa Khaled Ladawi, described as the commander of Hamas's internal security for the central camps. The joint statement says Ladawi's unit was a secret intelligence-gathering mechanism that collected information for senior Hamas officials and advanced terror plots against Israel. The confirmation provides the name and additional detail, following The Zioneer's initial report of the elimination at 16:06 Jerusalem Monday.
The story unfolded over the past 24 hours. On Sunday, Hamas's interior ministry reported that a vehicle strike in Deir al-Balah had killed Wa'el al-Ludawi, head of internal security for the central district, and officer Ramiz Abu Zureik. At that time, the IDF had not confirmed the operation. Shortly after, N12 journalist Sapir Lipkin identified the target as Wael al-Ludawi. The Zioneer reported the elimination at 16:06 Monday. The IDF and Shin Bet later issued a joint statement confirming the identity and detailing Ladawi's role.
The elimination is part of a sustained Israeli campaign to dismantle Hamas's internal security apparatus. As The Zioneer reported on Sunday, the IDF and Shin Bet earlier that day confirmed the killing of the head of internal security for the central Gaza Strip. On July 26, the IDF killed Wael al-Dadaoui, head of the entire internal security apparatus, in a separate strike. These operations target senior figures responsible for intelligence collection and terror plot facilitation.
The statement did not specify whether any additional operatives were targeted in the same strike or provide details on the method of strike. The military said precautions were taken to minimize civilian harm, but no further information was released.
12 developments
- DevelopingWael al-Dadaoui, Hamas's internal security chief, killed in IDF strike on his car
- DevelopingIDF kills Hamas military security chief for Central Jabaliya Battalion, three operatives in Gaza strike
- DevelopingReport: Senior Hamas official Wael Musa al-Ludawi leads crackdown on militias cooperating with Israel
- StrongIDF and Shin Bet eliminate Hamas platoon commander Adel Jihad Muhammad Asfour
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