Israel confirms elimination of one of Hamas attack organizers
Israeli soldiers (photo: Getty Images)
In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet officially confirmed that Hamas brigade commander Rafaa Salameh was killed in a strike in southern Gaza yesterday, according to The Times of Israel.
The IDF claims that Salameh was "one of the closest associates" of Muhammad Deif, the head of the terrorist group's military wing, and "was one of the masterminds of the October 7 massacre."
According to representatives of the Israeli Defense Forces, his assassination dealt a "significant blow to the military capabilities of Hamas."
Muhammad Deif was also at the scene of the attack, but the IDF has not yet received final confirmation that he was killed in the attack.
What is known about Rafaa Salam
According to the Israeli Defense Forces, Rafaa Salameh joined Hamas in the early 1990s and was later appointed commander of the Al-Qarara Battalion of the Khan Younis Brigade.
According to the IDF, he "played a significant role" in the kidnapping of Israeli army soldier Gilad Shilat in 2006, and during the 2014 war he commanded Hamas' "combat support and defensive plans."
According to the military, in 2016 he replaced Mohammed Sinwar, the brother of Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, as commander of the Khan Younis Brigade.
The Israeli Defense Forces add that in addition to numerous missile attacks on Israel, he also commanded two tunnels that were attacked during the war in May 2021.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that, according to the Associated Press, 90 Palestinians were killed during Israel's attempt to eliminate the Hamas commander in Gaza.
