Hamas confirms death of senior commander in Israeli air strike
Hamas said on Sunday that a senior commander had been killed in an Israeli air strike, with the Israeli military confirming his death.
Samir Abu Younis, 53, the commander of the Rafah brigade, was killed on Saturday, said Al Qassam Brigades, which is linked to Hamas.
The Israeli military said it had killed Abu Younis in a strike in the southern Gaza Strip overnight, adding that he had led the Rafah brigade since his predecessor, Nael Abu Obeid, was killed on September 15.
Medics said Abu Younis was killed and others were wounded in an air strike that targeted him in a street in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Hamas said Abu Younis joined Al Qassam Brigades in 1991 and had held several senior operational roles in Rafah before becoming commander of the group.
His funeral will be held on Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis, Hamas said.
An October 2025 ceasefire halted major fighting in the Israel-Gaza war but has not stopped Israeli attacks.
At least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire went into effect, while 5 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
More than 74,000 people have been killed in the Israeli military campaign in Gaza since the 2023 attack.