00:06Israel says it has struck another major blow against Hamas. The Israel Defense Forces,
00:12or IDF, announced that it has eliminated two Hamas commanders in separate operations in the
00:18Gaza Strip, including a senior operative it says participated in the October 7,
00:232023 attack on kibbutz near Oz. In a statement posted on X, the Israeli military identified the
00:31first commander as Salim Jamal Abd al-Rahman Abu Labad. According to the IDF, Abu Labad served as
00:38a Nukbah cell commander, part of Hamas's elite force that Israel says led the cross-border assault
00:44on southern Israel on October 7. The attack remains one of the deadliest days in Israel's history.
00:49Israeli authorities say around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 people were taken
00:55hostages, triggering the ongoing war in Gaza. The IDF says Abu Labad was among those responsible
01:02for advancing Hamas's military operations and described his death as part of Israel's continued
01:08effort to dismantle the group's command structure. In the same announcement, the Israeli military also
01:14confirmed the killing of Muhammad Abd al-Nasir Muhammad Hatib. The IDF identified him as a commander of
01:21Hamas's Maghazi Battalion, operating under the group's military wing. According to Israel, Hatib was
01:27involved in planning and attempting attacks against Israeli troops currently operating inside the Gaza
01:33Strip. The Israeli military did not specify when or where the operations took place. It also did not
01:39provide details about the intelligence or methods used to locate the two commanders. In its official
01:45statement, the IDF said both men were operating under Hamas's military wing, and accused them of
01:50attempting to carry out additional attacks against Israeli forces. The latest announcement comes as Israeli
01:56operations continue across multiple areas of Gaza. Israeli officials say the campaign remains focused on
02:03destroying Hamas's military infrastructure, eliminating senior commanders, and securing the release of
02:09hostages still believed to be held inside the enclave. Since the conflict began, Israel has repeatedly
02:15targeted members of Hamas's military leadership through air strikes and special operations. Israeli
02:21officials argue that removing experienced commanders weakens Hamas's operational capabilities
02:27and disrupts future attacks. Hamas has not immediately issued a public response regarding
02:32the latest Israeli claims. Independent verification of battlefield developments remains difficult because
02:38of ongoing fighting and restricted access to many areas of Gaza. The conflict has now entered another
02:44prolonged phase, with military operations continuing alongside diplomatic efforts to secure ceasefires and
02:51hostage agreements. Israeli leaders maintain that military pressure remains essential until Hamas's command
02:57structure is dismantled and the remaining hostages are brought home. Meanwhile, international calls for
03:04humanitarian access and a negotiated solution continue to grow as the fighting shows little sign of ending.
03:10For Israel, the elimination of commanders allegedly linked to the October 7th attack carries both military and symbolic significance.
03:18For Hamas, continued leadership losses present additional operational challenges as the conflict enters another critical stage.
03:26Whether these latest strikes alter the battlefield or broader negotiations remains to be seen,
03:32but they underscore Israel's ongoing strategy of targeting Hamas's military leadership throughout Gaza.
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