IDF says it killed several Gaza terror officials, include Islamic Jihad member involved in hostage handover

A Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist who was involved in the release ceremony for an Israeli hostage was killed in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip over the weekend, the military announces.

The IDF says the strike on Saturday killed Amro Abu Alrish, a member of Islamic Jihad’s elite forces.

“Abu Alrish took part in the handing over and release of an Israeli civilian from Islamic Jihad captivity,” the army says, without detailing who the hostage was.

During the war, Abu Alrish took part in fighting IDF troops in the Strip’s south. Recently, he advanced attacks, trained terrorists and acted to rebuild Islamic Jihad’s capabilities, the army says.

The IDF says a separate strike in northern Gaza on Saturday killed Abd Al-Nasser Al-Aziz Maqadmeh, a commander in the Hamas-run police, and a deputy platoon commander in Hamas’s military wing.

Maqadmeh also advanced attacks on Israeli troops and civilians recently, according to the IDF.

The IDF says both terror operatives “posed a threat to the troops and were eliminated in precise aerial strikes.”