Israeli military eliminates three top Islamic Jihad commanders in Gaza

The Israeli military on Monday announced the killing of three senior commanders of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Gaza.

In a statement posted on X, the Israel Defense Forces, IDF, said the operation targeted key figures involved in the group’s military activities and weapons development.

According to the IDF, those killed include Muhammad Atiya Hassan Abu Afash, who headed the Engineering and Specializations Array and was responsible for advancing the organization’s engineering capabilities.

The military also identified Farhat Zuhair Farhat Harara, the deputy head of the Engineering Array, as among those killed. The IDF described him as a close associate of Abu Afash who played a significant role in the unit’s operations.

Also killed was Abdallah Allah Riyad Masoud Qadoum, head of the Anti-Tank Missile Array in northern Gaza. The IDF alleged that Qadoum was involved in planning and carrying out numerous anti-tank missile attacks against Israeli troops.

The Israeli military said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to weaken the operational capabilities of armed groups in Gaza.