Israel Kills Senior Hamas Commander in Gaza Airstrike

The Israel Defense Forces killed Samir Abu Younis, a senior commander of the Rafah brigade in the military wing of Hamas, during an airstrike on November 15, 2026. The strike targeted Abu Younis on a street in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, leaving several other people wounded.

In a separate operation, Israeli forces conducted a drone strike in Jabaliya, located on the northern edge of Gaza City. The Israeli military stated the strike killed two Palestinians who were Hamas militants.

These operations occur despite an October 2025 ceasefire that halted major fighting but did not result in the disarmament of Hamas. Gaza health authorities report that at least 1,600 Palestinians and five Israeli soldiers have been killed since that ceasefire began.