Israeli airstrikes kill Hamas operatives as ceasefire faces mounting pressure
The Israeli military conducted airstrikes over the weekend that killed five Hamas operatives, including a Nukhba Force commander who participated in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The strikes reflect the growing strain on the ceasefire that has been in place since October 2025, which mediators have repeatedly warned remains fragile.
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The Israel Defense Forces announced on Sunday that weekend airstrikes in the Jabaliya area of the Gaza Strip killed Abd al-Fattah Abu al-Aish, a Nukhba Force commander described as having participated in the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Another operative, Raed Alyan, was killed in the same strike. A separate airstrike in Deir al-Balah killed a third operative, whom the military accused of planning attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. Two additional Nukhba Force members were reported killed in a further strike in southern Gaza.
Hamas did not immediately respond to the military's claims. The Israeli military maintains that such strikes target individuals who violate the ceasefire by attempting to rebuild Hamas's military capabilities, an accusation Hamas has previously rejected in similar incidents.
Wire agency reports also documented Israeli fire and strikes that killed three Palestinians in Gaza in the days leading up to Sunday, reflecting the ongoing friction surrounding ceasefire implementation. The ceasefire, which has been in effect since October 2025 following US-brokered negotiations, has been consistently described by mediators as fragile. Disputes persist over the pace of Hamas's promised disarmament and over the extent of Israeli military operations continuing inside the Gaza Strip.
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