The Israeli Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency Shin Bet yesterday announced in a joint statement that Rawhi Mushtaha, the head of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip who was also portrayed as Hamas head Yahya Sinwar's right-hand man, has been killed three months ago, apparently in an Israel Defense Forces and ISA synchronized operation in the Gaza Strip.
According to both the spokesman of the IDF and the spokeswoman of the Shin Bet, among those who were killed in the attack were Sameh al-Siraj, who was responsible for the security portfolio within Hamas political bureau and Sami Oudeh, Commander of Hamas' General Security Mechanism.
"During a pinpoint IDF and ISA intelligence-based strike, IAF fighter jets struck and eliminated the terrorists as they hid in a fortified and equipped underground compound in the northern Gaza Strip. The compound served as a Hamas command and control center and enabled senior operatives to remain inside of it for extended periods of time," they said in a joint statement.
They disclosed that the compound was commanded by Hamas' top leaders in the General Security Mechanism and was a hideout of the Hamas leadership, which is led by Mushtaha.
"After the strike on the compound and the elimination of the terrorists, Hamas did not declare their deaths as they had done after previous eliminations in order to avoid loss of morale and the functioning of its terror operatives," they said.
According to the IDF, Rawhi Mushtaha was one of Hamas' most senior operatives and was therefore directly influential to the decisions relating to Hamas' force deployment. Mushtaha was involved in military decisions and also was the Head of Hamas Civil Governance in Gaza Strip, holding the Prisoners Affairs Portfolio. He also formerly served with the finance portfolio.
"Mushtaha, with Yahya Sinwar, established Hamas' General Security Mechanism. They were both in prison and served the sentence in an Israeli jail. Mushtaha was considered the most senior figure in the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip and, during the war, kept civilian control over the Hamas regime at the same time as he was conducting terrorism against Israel. Mushtaha was Sinwar's right-hand man and one of his closest associates," said the joint statement.
Both the IDF and the ISA stressed that Israel will continue searching for all the terrorists responsible for last year's October 7 massacre, and will operate against any of those who threaten the State. Read also| UNSC Members Unite in Support of Guterres After Israel Labels Him 'Persona Non Grata' Read also| Deeply concerned at escalation of security situation in West Asia, Says India
