Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday evening that the IDF has struck and killed the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade. The operation follows the elimination of the Khan Younis Brigade commander earlier this week, as Israel continues targeting senior Hamas commanders in Gaza.
Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed at 22:49 Jerusalem that the IDF had struck and eliminated the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade, identified as Nael Abu Ubaid (Abu Atiya). Shortly after the official confirmation, sources in Gaza confirmed his death, providing independent corroboration of the operation. The strike follows the elimination of the Khan Younis Brigade commander four days earlier, part of an intensified campaign against senior Hamas commanders in Gaza.
The Zioneer Intelligence Desk first reported at 22:08 Jerusalem that the IDF and Shin Bet had struck a senior Hamas operative in the southern Gaza Strip, with Israeli media identifying the target as the Rafah Brigade commander. Within minutes, the desk noted praise for the IDF Southern Command fire center's precision in the strike. Netanyahu and Katz then confirmed the operation, stating: "Our message is clear: no terrorist is immune, and Hamas will not be in Gaza." They added that a new Rafah Brigade commander had already been appointed and vowed to target him as well. At the same hour, Gaza sources confirmed the elimination of Nael Abu Ubaid.
The elimination of the Rafah Brigade commander is part of Israel's ongoing operation to dismantle Hamas's military leadership in Gaza. As The Zioneer reported, the elimination of the Khan Younis Brigade commander earlier this week was a significant milestone in that campaign. Security sources have highlighted the IDF's ability to precisely strike senior commanders despite the operational complexity.
The IDF has not disclosed further details about the strike or the exact timeline of Abu Ubaid's elimination. The threat to target the newly appointed Rafah Brigade commander remains active, and the IDF and Shin Bet continue operations in the southern Gaza Strip.
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