The IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced the elimination of three senior Hamas officials on Sunday, one political and two military.
The military said it had eliminated Salah Bardawil, a senior terrorist in Hamas's political bureau in a strike overnight in the southern Gaza Strip.
Bardawil headed the terror group's planning and development office, the IDF noted, adding that in the framework of his role, the terrorist led Hamas's strategic and military planning in the Gaza Strip.
"This elimination further degrades Hamas’ military and government capabilities," the military noted.
An additional terrorist assassinated was Ahmad Salman ‘Awj Shimali, the deputy chief of the Gaza City brigade, who handled much of the operational and force buildup planning for that brigade leading into October 7 as well as during the war after that.
Another official, Jamil Omar Jamil Wadiya, was the battalion commander of Shejaia in northern Gaza since December 2023 when his predecessor in that role was killed by the IDF.
Wadiya was in charge of the deployment of the Shejaia terrorists against IDF troops.
The military further noted that Wadiya had taken part in the 2011 ant-tank missile attack in which Daniel Viflic, 16, was killed.
IDF operation in southern Gaza
Overnight, reports emerged of an IDF strike in which Bardawil had been killed in a Khan Yunis strike.
On Sunday, the IDF expanded its operations in the southern Gaza Strip, instructing Gazans to evacuate Tel Sultan in Rafah.
Last week, the military invaded northern Gaza, central Gaza, Khan Yunis, and Rafah.
Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.