The Al-Qassam Brigades confirmed the death of 53-year-old Samir Abu Younis, who led its Rafah brigade after decades in operational roles. The Israeli military affirmed on Sunday that it had launched an airstrike targeting a senior commander, though it stopped short of naming him publicly. Medics reported that the street strike in Khan Younis also wounded several other individuals nearby. This incident adds to a post-truce death toll that Gaza health authorities place at over 1,600 Palestinians since October 2025.
Key points
The October 2025 ceasefire has paused major combat operations but has failed to halt targ…: The October 2025 ceasefire has paused major combat operations but has failed to halt targeted strikes or disarm Hamas.
More than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed since the military campaign began followin…: More than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed since the military campaign began following the October 2023 cross-border assault.
The loss of the 53-year-old Rafah brigade commander removes a veteran operative who serve…: The loss of the 53-year-old Rafah brigade commander removes a veteran operative who served Hamas' armed wing since 1991.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Hamas' armed wing said on Sunday that a senior commander who helped plan and oversee the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel had been killed in an Israeli airstrike.
The Al-Qassam Brigades identified the commander as Samir Abu Younis, 53, the commander of its Rafah brigade, and said he was killed on Saturday.
The Israeli military said on Sunday it had struck a senior commander in Hamas' armed wing but did not identify him.
Medics said Abu Younis was killed and others were wounded in an airstrike that targeted him in a street in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Hamas said Abu Younis joined Hamas' armed wing in 1991 and had held several senior operational roles in Rafah before becoming commander of the brigade.
Hamas said his funeral would be held on Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis.
An October 2025 ceasefire halted major fighting but has not stopped Israeli attacks or secured Hamas' disarmament.
Gaza health authorities say at least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire went into effect. Five Israeli soldiers…
Rival factions are actively racing to assemble a governing coalition following an inconclusive national election that left the Knesset without a clear majority. The opposition argues that current leadership is using disingenuous negotiation appeals to stall the establishment of an alternative administration and halt parliamentary leadership changes. Resolving the deadlock now hinges on whether competing blocs can unite while navigating strict conditions regarding extremist participation.
Allied military units defending Yemen’s recognized government successfully brought down an unmanned aircraft that had been launched by Houthi forces toward target zones within the kingdom. Official statements confirmed the hostile aerial asset was neutralized before it could complete its flight over the territorial airspace. The ongoing defensive operation highlights continuous efforts by regional security personnel to eliminate airborne threats originating from Yemeni combatants.
The targeted drone operation coordinated by Israeli forces and the Shin Bet eliminated Rafah brigade leader Samir Abu Younis. The strike hit a tent in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, an overcrowded coastal zone previously designated as safe for displaced Palestinians. The incident adds to mounting civilian perils in southern Gaza, where severe winter weather and relentless bombardments continue to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.