Hamas' armed wing announced on Sunday that a key commander had died following an Israeli airstrike. The Al-Qassam Brigades named him as 53-year-old Samir Abu Younis, who headed the Rafah brigade.
According to the armed group, he was killed on Saturday. He had helped plan and oversee the October 7, 2023, assault on Israel.
Strike in Khan Younis
Medics stated that Abu Younis was hit on a street in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza. Several others sustained injuries during the strike.
The Israeli military confirmed on Sunday that it struck a top commander in Hamas' armed wing, though it did not name the individual at the time.
Decades in the brigade
Hamas revealed that Abu Younis joined its armed wing back in 1991. He handled multiple senior operational roles in Rafah before taking charge of the brigade.
An October 2025 ceasefire paused major fighting, but strikes have continued. Gaza health officials say at least 1,600 Palestinians have died since the truce started, while five Israeli soldiers were also killed in that period.
What happens next
Hamas said his funeral would be held on Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis.
