From the Liveblog of
Monday, May 20, 2024
Israel says two top Hamas military operatives killed in recent Gaza strikes
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Two Hamas military operatives who also served as top officials in the terror group’s police were killed in recent Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, the military and Shin Bet announce.
On Sunday, Zaher al-Houli, a senior police officer in central Gaza was targeted in a drone strike. According to the IDF, al-Houli was a member of Hamas’s military wing along with his senior role in the police.
“As part of his activities, Zaher maintained contacts with other terrorists from the organization and advanced terror attacks against the Israeli home front,” the military says.
A separate strike on Saturday killed Rami Khalil Faki, who the IDF says is a member of Hamas’s military wing, alongside his role as a top officer in the Nuseirat police.
“As part of his role, he commanded a force of armed terrorists who led acts against our forces,” the military says.
Faki’s deputy and four more Hamas members were killed in the strike.
Police in the Gaza Strip are under the jurisdiction of Hamas, and according to Israel, many of its officers also serve in the terror group’s military wing.
