The Israel Defense Forces said Monday that it eliminated Mustafa Oweisi, a weapons smuggler, in a Sunday airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip. According to the military, Oweisi was attempting to smuggle military equipment to rebuild Hamas's naval and aerial capabilities, in violation of the ceasefire.
The IDF confirmed Monday evening that it eliminated weapons smuggler Mustafa Oweisi in a Sunday airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip, stating that Oweisi was attempting to smuggle military equipment to rebuild Hamas's naval and aerial capabilities, in violation of the ceasefire. The designation of Oweisi's role in smuggling for naval and aerial units was provided by the military in this latest update, adding specificity to earlier reports of the strike.
Initial reports of the targeted strike on a tent in western Khan Younis, identifying the target as Mustafa al-Awaisi, emerged from Gazan sources at 18:39 Jerusalem on Sunday. The IDF subsequently confirmed the elimination and identified Oweisi as a weapons smuggler. Over the course of the evening, the military progressively detailed the purpose of the smuggling, stating that Oweisi was moving equipment to rebuild Hamas's maritime and aerial capabilities. The Zioneer first reported the IDF confirmation at 17:48 Jerusalem on Monday.
The elimination is part of broader Israeli efforts to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its military capabilities under the ceasefire. As The Zioneer reported on Sunday, the IDF destroyed a Hamas weapons production site in Gaza City. Previous strikes have targeted operatives involved in drone development and attack plots, including a Hamas operative building a suicide drone unit reported on June 15.
No details on the specific equipment smuggled or the origin of the shipment have been released. The extent of Hamas's naval and aerial rebuilding efforts, and whether Oweisi was part of a larger network, remain unclear.
5 developments
- DevelopingIDF eliminates a terrorist involved in weapons smuggling for Hamas in southern Gaza
- DevelopingIDF destroys Hamas weapons manufacturing site in western Gaza City, multiple terrorists killed
- StrongIDF eliminates Hamas Oct. 7 infiltrator who was rebuilding terror capabilities in Gaza
- StrongIDF eliminates a terrorist in UAV strike in northern Gaza
Source and signal
- Internal intake