In a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Thursday that they had eliminated Rawhi Mushtaha, head of Hamas’s government in Gaza, along with two other senior security officials. The strikes were conducted approximately three months ago.
The IDF, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stated that fighter jets targeted and destroyed a fortified underground compound in northern Gaza, where the Hamas officials were hiding. This compound, according to the IDF, served as a command and control center for Hamas, enabling senior operatives to remain concealed for extended periods.
The IDF identified the other two officials killed as Sami Oudeh, commander of Hamas’s general security mechanism, and Sameh al-Siraj, who held the security portfolio for Hamas’s political bureau.
The Israeli military emphasized the significance of Mushtaha’s death, highlighting his role as a key figure in Hamas’s operations and his close relationship with Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’s top leader. Mushtaha was considered the most senior member of the Hamas Political Bureau in the Gaza Strip and was responsible for civil affairs.
The US State Department had designated Mushtaha as a “specially designated global terrorist” in 2015. The European Council on Foreign Relations further described him as a member of Hamas’s Gaza politburo, responsible for overseeing its financial affairs.
Al-Siraj, also considered a close associate of Sinwar, was responsible for the security portfolio within Hamas’s Political Bureau. Oudeh, on the other hand, was instrumental in ensuring Hamas’s survival in the Gaza Strip through his command of the general security mechanism.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, has resulted in the tragic loss of life on both sides. Israel has reported over 1,205 fatalities, primarily civilians. The confirmation of the killing of these high-level Hamas officials is a significant development in the conflict and highlights the ongoing tensions and military operations taking place in the region.
