Israel eliminates PIJ commander, several Nukhba terrorists in Gaza City; Hamas terrorists attack humanitarian aid route

The IDF announced on Thursday that joint operations with the Israel Security Agency [Shin Bet] resulted in the elimination of the commander of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Naval Forces in Gaza City, along with another terrorist involved in the Oct. 7 massacre.

Based on IDF and Shin Bet intelligence, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) killed PIJ Naval Forces Commander Anas in Gaza City. 

In another strike, IAF aircraft struck PIJ terrorist Ahmad Almasri, who took part in the Oct. 7 terror attack. Almasri was reportedly responsible for launching numerous projectiles from Shejaiya toward southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7 and since the start of the war. 

Israeli military officials reported that IDF troops are continuing “precise, intelligence-based operational activity” in Rafah. 

In the past day, IDF troops located several tunnel shafts in Rafah and killed several terrorists while fighting.

On Thursday afternoon, the IDF announced that Nukhba terrorist Muhammad Abu Hattab, reportedly responsible for killing IDF Sergeant Tal Lahat on July 9, was killed in a joint IDF-ISA operation that killed 20 terrorists. 

20 Hamas terrorists, including Nukhba terrorists, engineers, and snipers have been eliminated.

Among them was Muhammed Abu Jattab, a platoon commander and sniper. Throughout the war, Abu Jattab conducted numerous sniper attacks against IDF troops in Gaza, including the fatal…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 18, 2024

Hattab was the sniper who killed Lahat during operations in the Magellan unit’s raid on the UNRWA headquarters. 

On Wednesday, Hamas terrorists fired an RPG missile at IDF troops who were stationed along the humanitarian aid route, while trucks drove along the road. IDF soldiers engaged the terrorists and ones soldier was moderately injured in the attack. The route was temporarily closed but a few hours later the distribution route for humanitarian aid into Gaza resumed.

Hamas continues to put itself in the way of aid meant for Gazans in need.

Just yesterday, Hamas terrorists fired an RPG missile at IDF troops stationed along the humanitarian route while aid trucks were driving by. As a result, the route was temporarily closed and reopened a few…

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 18, 2024

The IDF stated it would "continue to operate in accordance with international law in order to allow and facilitate humanitarian aid for civilians in the Gaza Strip.” 

Meanwhile, a source in Gaza told the KAN news outlet that Hamas leadership has already picked a successor to Mohammed Deif, further indicating that Deif was likely killed or significantly injured during the strike on Saturday. 

The source told KAN that Izz a-Din Haddad, one of two Hamas brigade commanders would replace Deif. 

Haddad, the commander of the Gaza Brigade, was nicknamed “The Ghost” because he eluded Israeli attempts to eliminate him during the war. 

Like Deif, Haddad also survived several assassination attempts over the past decade.