IDF Says It Killed Two Hamas Commanders, Including One Who Trained Terrorists Before October 7

The IDF announced today (Tuesday) that it killed two commanders and operatives in Hamas’s military wing in two separate strikes in the Gaza Strip. According to the announcement, the two had recently been involved in advancing terror plans against IDF troops and Israeli civilians, as well as rebuilding the organization’s capabilities.

In a strike carried out yesterday in the Khan Younis area, Rafat Abu Zamar was killed. He served as a company commander in the operations headquarters of Hamas’s military wing. According to the IDF statement, Abu Zamar was involved in training terrorists even before the October 7 attack and continued this activity in recent months.

The IDF said Abu Zamar promoted and led training for military-wing terrorists ahead of the October 7 massacre. Afterward, according to the military, he continued training operatives and working to develop Hamas’s combat capabilities.

In another strike, carried out in Gaza City, Muhammad Khader Fahmi Ughur, an operative in Hamas’s military wing, was killed. According to the IDF, Ughur was involved in manufacturing weapons for the terror organization.

It was also noted that in recent months, the two had worked to advance terror plans against IDF forces and Israeli civilians, while also rebuilding Hamas’s capabilities. The IDF said their activities were carried out "through systematic violations of the ceasefire," and that they were killed to remove the immediate threat they posed.

The military also said that before and during the strikes, it took steps intended to minimize harm to civilians as much as possible, including the use of precision munitions and aerial surveillance.