Ceasefire Shattered
BREAKING: Major Elimination Confirmed - IDF Kills Zeitoun Battalion Commander and Deputy Gaza City Chief in Retaliation Strike
The IDF launched targeted strikes against senior Hamas military commanders in Gaza, including the Zeitoun Battalion commander, after terrorists breached the ceasefire by firing across the "Yellow Line" near Khan Younis.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched targeted strikes today, Wednesday, against senior members of the Hamas terrorist organization's military wing, in direct response to a significant breach of the ceasefire agreement by Hamas operatives.
Palestinian reports indicate that the Air Force targeted commanders in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City and the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. The stated objectives of the strikes were the deputy commander of the Gaza City Brigade, the commander of the Zeitoun Battalion, and the head of Hamas's naval array.
Targeting Terror Command
A security source informed media that there is a high probability that the targets were eliminated. Specifically, reports later confirmed the elimination of Imad al-Salim, the commander of the Zeitoun Battalion and Deputy Commander of Gaza City.
The IDF action came just hours after Hamas terrorists opened fire from beyond the "Yellow Line", the area controlled by Israel within the Gaza Strip near Khan Younis, toward an IDF force. No Israeli casualties were reported in the incident, which the IDF immediately condemned.
The IDF stated unequivocally: "This constitutes a violation of the ceasefire. IDF forces under the Southern Command are deployed in the area and will continue to act to remove any immediate threat. The IDF will continue to act forcefully to remove any threat to the State of Israel." The IDF Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, had recently emphasized that the Yellow Line serves as a "line of encirclement and control," a message aimed at emphasizing Israeli military dominance in the area.
Regional Escalation and Diplomatic Tensions
The operation follows a wider pattern of engagement. Last night, the IDF struck a Hamas training compound in Ein al-Hilweh in Sidon, Southern Lebanon. Lebanese sources reported 13 fatalities in that strike. Hamas denied the target was a terrorist facility, but the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesman later released an invitation by the terrorist organization for its operatives to attend the site, confirming its use as a recruitment and training center.
The escalation comes amid severe difficulties in implementing the next phases of the ceasefire agreement.
Furthermore, diplomatic efforts have hit a snag. Earlier today, Palestinian sources claimed that a planned meeting in Ankara between US envoy Steve Witkoff and senior Hamas political leader Khalil al-Hayya was canceled due to Israeli pressure. The reported meeting, intended to discuss the "day after" in Gaza, had sparked outrage in the Israeli security establishment, who feared it would grant recognition to the terrorist organization and complicate negotiations.
The Israeli security establishment remains firmly opposed to moving to the second phase of the agreement without the return of the three remaining deceased captives, the disarmament of the Gaza Strip, and the complete end of Hamas rule. The military’s actions emphasize that they will continue to act against the terrorist organization wherever it operates.