Hamas confirms senior commander killed in Israeli airstrike in Gaza

Israeli military forces reportedly struck a senior Hamas military commander in the Khan Younis area, with sources confirming the death of Samir Abu Younis, according to the wire material. The Israeli military announced on Sunday that they had targeted a high-ranking member of Hamas' military wing. Hamas sources reported to Reuters that the airstrike claimed the life of Samir Abu Younis, who was identified as the commander of the Rafah Brigade within Hamas' armed forces.

Medical officials stated that Abu Younis was killed, while others were wounded in the airstrike that targeted him on a street in the Al-Mawasi district of Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Despite a ceasefire agreement in October 2025 that ended major combat operations, Israeli strikes have persisted, and Hamas has not been disarmed. According to health authorities in Gaza, over 1,600 Palestinians have lost their lives since the ceasefire took effect. Additionally, five Israeli soldiers have been killed during the same timeframe.