IDF kills Hamas commander who played ‘significant role’ in planning Oct. 7 massacre
The Israeli military was active east of the Yellow Line in northern Gaza throughout January, dismantling terrorist infrastructure and targeting known terrorists.
The IDF and the Shin Bet (Israeli Security Agency) on Saturday named three Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists who were killed Thursday in the Gaza Strip.
Those named on Saturday were Muhammad Hamed Muhammad Khuli, Ashraf Adnan Muhammad al-Khatib and Saeed Khaled Ali Abd al-Rahman.
According to the Israeli military, Khuli was the commander of the operations department of Hamas’s central camps and played an important role in the preparations for the October 7 massacre.
Khuli was also involved in planning the attack on the Nahal Oz checkpoint on February 6, 1995, during which Yevgeny Gromov was assassinated, the Israeli military said.
Al-Khatib was the commander of the PIJ’s rocket and missile network, and Abd al-Rahman was the sniper leader of Hamas’ Deir al-Balah Battalion in the Central Camps Brigade, the army added.
IDF activity in Gaza throughout January
Separately, the IDF killed two other Hamas terrorists who were working to rebuild the terrorist organization’s infrastructure.
The strikes were carried out in response to reported violations of the ceasefire agreement on Tuesday, during which terrorists emerged from underground tunnels and attempted to ambush IDF soldiers in western Rafah.
IDF strikes kill Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in Gaza, January 15, 2026 (IDF/TELEGRAM)
The IDF’s 16th Brigade, under the command of the 252nd Division, dismantled hundreds of “terrorist infrastructure sites,” including weapons, shafts and underground tunnels east of the Yellow Line, throughout January, the army said in a statement Friday.
According to the statement, “dozens” of terrorists were also killed.
Settlers burn tents and vehicles in Palestinian village
Shortly after midnight, the IDF and Border Police were called to the Palestinian village of Mukhmas in the West Bank after receiving reports that a number of Israeli settlers had burned tents and vehicles, the army said Saturday evening.
Following the event, several Palestinians, foreign citizens and Israelis who were at the scene were evacuated to receive medical treatment.
While searching the area, IDF and Border Police officers found a vehicle with Israeli plates belonging to the suspects, inside which were blunt weapons. The vehicle was confiscated by the district police for further investigation.
Israeli security personnel have not located the perpetrators of the attack in Mukhmas, according to Saturday’s statement, but are continuing their search into the night.
