Hamas commander Samir Abu Younis killed in Israeli strike on Khan Younis

Hamas announced that Samir Abu Younis, a senior commander who played a key role in planning the 7 October 2023 assault on Israel, was killed in an Israeli airstrike. The Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' armed wing, confirmed that Abu Younis, who was 53 years old and led the Rafah brigade, was among those killed in an airstrike on Saturday in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.

Israeli officials reported striking a senior Hamas commander but did not disclose his identity. Abu Younis, who joined Hamas' armed wing in 1991, held multiple senior operational positions in Rafah before assuming command of the brigade. His funeral was scheduled for Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis. Although the October 2025 ceasefire aimed to cease major fighting, it has not ended Israeli attacks or resulted in Hamas disarming.

According to Gaza health officials, the ceasefire has led to the deaths of at least 1,600 Palestinians, while Israeli forces have lost five soldiers. Palestinian authorities estimate that over 74,000 people have been killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza, which began in response to Hamas-led fighters killing around 1,200 people in southern Israel in October 2023. This information is reported by AFP.