The IDF and Shin Bet struck and killed Mohammad Fathi Abd al-Hay Abu Fakher, commander of Hamas's Yibna Battalion in the Rafah Brigade, in a precision strike yesterday. Separately, Islamic Jihad Nukhba platoon commander Ali Qaid Mohammed Stitan and a third operative involved in holding hostages were also eliminated, the military said.
The IDF and Shin Bet updated their account of yesterday's precision operations in Gaza, identifying two additional commanders eliminated alongside the previously announced Hamas Yibna Battalion chief.
At 18:41 Jerusalem on Tue Jun 30, the military confirmed the elimination of Mohammad Fathi Abd al-Hay Abu Fakher, commander of Hamas's Yibna Battalion in the Rafah Brigade, describing his role in recruiting operatives and rebuilding the battalion's attack capabilities. The desk's earlier reporting at the same timestamp noted his two-decade career directing weapons smuggling into Gaza.
In this update, the IDF named two other operatives struck yesterday: Ali Qaid Mohammed Stitan, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad Nukhba platoon commander who infiltrated Israel on October 7 and recently attempted to advance attacks, and a third operative involved in holding hostages. A strike two days ago (Sun Jun 28) killed Talal Jaber Mohammad Abd al-Aal, an Islamic Jihad commander whose cell entered Israel on October 7 and held hostages in southern Gaza.
As The Zioneer has reported this month (Jun 7–29), the campaign has systematically eliminated multiple Nukhba commanders and October 7 infiltrators. All three operatives named today were involved in the October 7 assault and subsequent efforts to conduct attacks against Israeli forces.
What remains unverified: the precise dates and locations of each strike beyond the IDF's general timeline, and whether additional operatives were targeted in the same operations.
6 developments
- StrongIDF details elimination of senior Hamas smuggler and supply chief Muhammad Abu Fakher
- StrongIDF eliminates senior Hamas operative involved in holding hostages
- StrongIDF and Shin Bet eliminated Hamas Rafah Brigade security chief Ismail Masri last week
- StrongIDF says it eliminated another senior Hezbollah commander, closes 'important circle'
Source and signal
- Internal intake