The IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) struck the hideout of Hamas's Beit Hanun Battalion commander on Sunday, and are waiting for confirmation that he was killed in the strikes.
Hussein Fiad, also known as Abu Hamza, had previously been declared as killed by the IDF in May 2024, in Jabalya.
However, the statement had to be retracted after footage showed him alive in January 2025.
During his January appearance, Fiad implied that Hamas would win the war, simply bu the virtue of not losing.
In the past two weeks, the IDF has expanded its operations in the northern Gaza Strip, including the 16th and 99th Divisions beginning operations to surround Beit Hanun, killing dozens of terrorists, and destroying terror infrastructure, including terror tunnels.
Beit Hanun terrorists pose threat to Gaza border communities
The 99th Division is also operating to remove the threat posed by Hamas's Beit Hanun Battalion to the Gaza border communities, railway line, and the Israeli city of Sderot.
Beit Hanun is in the buffer zone. The Gaza town, which is very close to Sderot, has long been a hot spot for terrorists, often used by Hamas and other groups to launch rockets at Israel.
Most of the city has been badly damaged or destroyed in the war.
Seth J. Frantzman and Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to this report.
This is a developing story.