The Israeli Defense Forces announced on Tuesday that another Hamas commander was killed in airstrikes in Gaza, CBS News reported.
According to a joint statement from the IDF and Israel’s ISA security agency, Hamas combat battalion commander Nasim Abu Ajina was killed in an intelligence-based strike carried out by fighter jets.
The IDF also confirmed on Tuesday that two IDF soldiers were killed in its ground operation in northern Gaza.
As part of the country’s vow to utterly destroy Hamas, the IDF has been carrying out targeted strikes to kill the senior leadership of Hamas.
Israeli officials have identified the Hamas leaders they are targeting and have provided a growing list of those already killed in strikes since the war began.
According to Tuesday’s statement, Nasim Abu Ajina “directed” the attacks on two Israeli border communities during the October 7 massacre, Moshav Netiv HaAsara and Kibbutz Eretz. He previously commanded the terror group’s Aerial Array, the group responsible for Hamas’ drones and paragliders.
Abu Ajina’s “elimination” will “significantly” harm Hamas’ efforts “to disrupt the IDF’s ground activities,” the joint statement said.
The IDF also released video footage of the airstrike that killed Abu Ajina.
Among the more than 55 Hamas leaders already killed by Israel are intelligence officials, commanders, and politicians.
Hamas’ main leader, Ismail Haniyeh, is living in Qatar and has not been in Gaza for years. However, some of the most senior leaders of Hamas are believed to still be in Gaza.
Hamas’ top leader in Gaza named on Isreal’s list is Yahya Sinwar, one of the founders of Hamas’ military wing the al-Qassam Brigades whom the IDF has named the mastermind of the October 7 massacre.
Mohammed Deif and Marwan Issa, the current leaders of the al-Qassam Brigades, are also on Israel’s list.
