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IDF says Gaza mayor killed in airstrike was a member of Hamas military wing

By Emanuel Fabian 14 December 2024, 5:36 pm 6 Edit

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

An IDF airstrike earlier today in the Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in the central Gaza Strip killed Diab Emad Ali Abd al-Rahman al-Jaro, the mayor of Deir al-Balah, who is accused of being a member of the military wing of Hamas.

According to the IDF and Shin Bet, al-Jaro “actively participated in the operations of Hamas’s government in the Deir al Balah area, maintained continuous contact with officials in Hamas’s military wing, and provided them with combat assistance against IDF troops.”

He was the mayor of Deir al Balah, head of the Hamas-run Emergency Committee in central Gaza, and responsible for Hamas’s political activity in the area, as well as various government offices, the military says.

Al-Jaro was targeted while at the Deir al Balah municipality building. The IDF says the building, in the humanitarian zone, was being used by Hamas operatives to plan and carry out attacks against troops in Gaza and against Israel.

The IDF says it took steps to mitigate harm to civilians in the strike, including using precision munitions and aerial surveillance. Palestinian media report at least 11 dead in the strike.

“Hamas continues to abuse civilian and humanitarian infrastructure for its terrorist activities, in violation of international law,” the military adds.

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