The IDF and Shin Bet said they struck and killed Nael Abu Obeid, the commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade and head of the terror group's operations department, in an airstrike in southern Gaza on Tuesday evening. The military stated that Abu Obeid was responsible for directing the brigade's terrorist activity and attempts to rebuild its capabilities after severe losses during the war.
The IDF and Shin Bet confirmed Tuesday evening that a precision airstrike eliminated Nael Abu Obeid, commander of Hamas's Rafah Brigade and head of the terror group's operations department. The confirmation capped a series of announcements that began hours earlier when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement noting the strike and declaring that 'no terrorist is immune, and Hamas will not be in Gaza' (The Zioneer, 23:48 Tuesday). The military said Abu Obeid had been appointed to his role after the elimination of his predecessor Muhammad Shabana, and previously commanded the Tel al-Sultan and Yabna battalions.
The elimination of the Rafah Brigade commander came on the same day the IDF confirmed the elimination of Ahmad Batsh, commander of the Hamas Jabaliya battalion in northern Gaza (17:38 Tuesday). Earlier this week, the military also confirmed the killing of the Khan Younis brigade commander. What began as a brief political confirmation from the prime minister and defense minister evolved into a detailed operational disclosure by the IDF and Shin Bet, which described Abu Obeid as a 'central figure among Hamas's senior ranks' responsible for directing terror attacks and attempts to rebuild the brigade's capabilities after heavy losses.
As The Zioneer reported in its background analysis, the Rafah Brigade has historically managed the smuggling tunnel network beneath the Gaza-Egypt border, serving as Hamas's logistical and procurement hub. The elimination of its commander is viewed by the Israeli security establishment as essential to preventing the terror group's military rehabilitation in southern Gaza.
The IDF stated after the confirmation that its forces remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and continue to operate against immediate threats.
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