The IAF struck a terrorist cell in the Beit Lahiya area of Gaza on Saturday, eliminating among others a terrorist who infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre, the military announced early Sunday morning.
According to the IDF, the terrorists were operating a drone intended to carry out terrorist attacks against IDF troops.
The drone being operated was identified as one consistently used by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization, the IDF added.
A number of terrorists were eliminated in the strike, including terrorists who were pretending to be journalists.
This included Mostafa Mohammed Shaaban Hamad, a Hamas terrorist who infiltrated Israel during the October 7th massacre; Mahmoud Yahya Rashdi Al-Sarraj, a terrorist in Hamas' engineering unit; Bilal Mahmoud Fouad Abu Matar, a Hamas terrorist who operated under the cover of a photographer; Mahmoud Imad Hassan Aslim, a terrorist in Hamas' Zeitoun Battalion who operated under the cover of a journalist; Suhaib Bassem Khaled Nagar, an Islamic Jihad terrorist who was released as part of the latest hostage deal and Mohammed Alaa Sobhi Al-Jafeer.
Hamas-affiliated medics told Reuters at least nine Palestinians were killed. Several were critically wounded as the strike hit a car, with casualties inside and outside the vehicle, the medics added. The IDF said a number of Palestinians collected the drone operating equipment and entered a vehicle, prompting Israeli forces to fire.
Witnesses and fellow journalists said the people in the car were on a mission for a charity called Al-Khair Foundation in the city, and they were accompanied by journalists and photographers when the strike hit them.
Salama Marouf, head of the Hamas-run Gaza government media office, denied the army’s statement.
“The team was made of civilians and worked in an area near a shelter on a mission sponsored by a charity. They didn’t exist in a prohibited area and didn’t pose any danger of any kind to the occupation army,” Marouf said.
Shaky ceasefire proceedings
The terror group also accused Israel of attempting to renege on the ceasefire agreement.
In southern Lebanon, the IDF also said it targeted Hezbollah operators involved in “terrorist activity” in the vicinity of Kafr Kila.
Lebanese media reported that two people were killed in the IDF strike, Lebanese media said.