IDF says strike killed Hamas commander involved in holding Israeli hostages PHOTO

The Israeli military said on July 17 that an airstrike in the Khan Yunis area of the Gaza Strip had killed a Hamas company commander whom it accused of being involved in holding Israeli hostages.

In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency identified the man as Anas Mahmoud Ahmed Hamdan. They said he had played a role in the captivity of Israeli hostages and in processes related to their transfer and release under hostage agreements, Caliber.Az reports.

According to the Israeli authorities, Hamdan was also responsible for propaganda activities within Hamas’ Khan Yunis Brigade and had served as an aide to senior Hamas military commanders, including Mohammed Deif and Rafaa Salameh.

The statement said Hamdan had been directly involved in holding hostages during the war and had documented hostages during release ceremonies. It also accused him of training Hamas fighters and helping plan attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.

The Israeli military said the strike was carried out on Thursday and described it as a precise aerial operation targeting a person it considered a threat to its forces in Gaza.

The IDF said troops under the Southern Command remained deployed in the area in accordance with the existing agreement and would continue operations against what it described as threats.

By Sabina Mammadli