The IDF killed several Hamas terrorists in Gaza this week, including one who had previously been involved in killing several dozen Israeli soldiers, the military announced on Monday.
Yousef Ibrahim Mahmoud Basheti had been part of a group of terrorists who fired anti-tank missiles at buildings in Gaza in January, 2024, where IDF soldiers were operating, as well as at a tank that had been guarding the troops.
The buildings were laden with stored explosives, and the missiles set them off, causing their total collapse, and the death of 21 IDF soldiers.
The IDF forces who were harmed were mostly reservists from Unit 8208 assigned to clear certain areas of dangerous items, such as mines, or in this case, to use the mines to destroy certain structures which were viewed as presenting a threat to future Israeli southern residents' security.
"The elimination of Basheti constitutes a significant step in addressing one of the most severe attacks carried out against IDF troops during the war," a military spokesperson stated.
Hamas terrorists killed by IDF
Several other Hamas terrorists had been seen this week approaching the Yellow Line, intending to commit terrorist acts, the military said, and were killed in an IDF strike.
Among these terrorists was an operative in Hamas’ military wing, an officer in the Hamas police, a Nukhba terrorist, and three other Hamas terrorists.
Yonah Jeremy Bob and Gadi Zaig contributed to this report.