A Southern Command official said the IDF worked extensively to track the Rafah Brigade commander, who was eliminated overnight. The official described him as 'evil to his core' and said he led Hamas's rehabilitation efforts and was involved in holding hostages and advancing frameworks.
A Southern Command official told Chadashot 100 Wednesday afternoon that the Rafah Brigade commander eliminated overnight was a central figure in Hamas's rehabilitation efforts in southern Gaza and was personally involved in holding Israeli hostages and advancing deal frameworks. The official described the commander as "evil to his core" and said the IDF invested extensive effort in tracking him over a prolonged period, striking when an opportunity arose.
The elimination unfolded Tuesday evening. Initial reports from The Zioneer's intelligence desk described a precise strike targeting the Rafah Brigade commander, with the Southern Command fire center praised for precision. Shortly afterward, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed the strike, vowing that "no terrorist is immune." Gaza-based sources soon confirmed the death of Nael Abu Ubaid, the commander, who also served as head of Hamas's operations array. By nightfall, the IDF and Shin Bet officially confirmed the elimination, noting that this was the second Rafah Brigade commander killed in the war; his predecessor, Muhammad Shabana, was eliminated approximately 18 months ago.
The Rafah Brigade has been a focal point of IDF operations aimed at severing Hamas's smuggling routes from Egypt and preventing the terror group's military rebuilding. As The Zioneer has reported, the brigade's commander served as a strategic node in coordinating cross-border activities and defensive operations. The elimination is part of a broader campaign to dismantle Hamas's command structure in Gaza, following the recent elimination of the Khan Younis Brigade commander and other senior field commanders.
No further details on the specific intelligence leading to the strike or the status of efforts to locate remaining hostages have been released.
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