The IDF, under ISA intelligence guidance, eliminated Waleed Haniyeh, the deputy commander of a Hamas Nukhba company, in an operation Thursday, according to the military. Haniyeh, the nephew of former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, was involved in the October 7 infiltration into Israel and the kidnapping of Israeli civilians to Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed Saturday evening that troops, operating under ISA direction, eliminated Waleed Haniyeh, the deputy commander of a Hamas Nukhba company, in an operation on Thursday. Haniyeh, a nephew of former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, was involved in the October 7 infiltration into Israel and the kidnapping of Israeli civilians to Gaza. The military characterized him as a senior operational commander within the Nukhba force, adding that in recent weeks he attempted to recruit new operatives and led theoretical training for the company under his command. The announcement comes after earlier unconfirmed reports of his death, followed by a funeral held Friday, as The Zioneer previously reported.
Initial reports Saturday evening (Sat 20:36 Jerusalem) from i24NEWS indicated that a nephew of Ismail Haniyeh was eliminated, without specifying his rank. Minutes later, the IDF confirmed Haniyeh's death and that he was the nephew of Ismail Haniyeh. The military then specified he was a Nukhba deputy commander who commanded an October 7 infiltration cell and a kidnapping operation. The final confirmation from the IDF and ISA, published at the same time, specified his rank as deputy commander of a Nukhba company, adding that the operation took place on Thursday.
The elimination is part of a broader campaign against Hamas Nukhba operatives involved in the October 7 attack and the subsequent holding of hostages. As The Zioneer reported on Tue Jun 23 14:47 Jerusalem, the IDF eliminated Sabai Abu Hasna, a Nukhba operative who held hostage Omer Shem Tov and appeared in a hostage-release ceremony. On Mon Jun 22 18:04 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported the elimination of Ahmed Washah and Abd al-Rahman Abu Gharkud in the same strike. The IDF also killed two Hamas cell commanders in central and northern Gaza, reported Mon Jun 23 23:47 Jerusalem.
The precise location and method of the strike on Haniyeh were not specified by the military. The extent of his role in directing hostage-related operations beyond October 7 also remains unclear.
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
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