The IDF said Thursday that it had killed a Hamas operative who posed a threat to Israeli forces and operated under the guise of a journalist, in a strike carried out in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to a military statement.
The target was identified as Muhammad Samir Muhammad Washah, whom the military described as a key figure in Hamas’s rocket and weapons production headquarters. According to the IDF, Washah had been actively planning attacks against Israeli troops operating in the area.
The military said that throughout the war, Washah was involved in the development of drones, rockets, and other weapons, and also played a role in transferring arms across Gaza.
The IDF previously claimed that Washah had presented himself as a journalist affiliated with Al Jazeera, allegedly using that identity as cover to advance terrorist activities against Israeli forces and the State of Israel.
Washah contributed to Hamas’s force build-up
The statement added that Washah contributed to Hamas’s force build-up and was directly involved in planning attacks, posing what the military described as a “concrete threat” to troops.
Prior to the strike, the IDF said measures were taken to minimize civilian harm, including the use of precision-guided munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence.
The military noted that IDF forces under the Southern Command remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire and will continue operating to remove immediate threats on the ground.