The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) disclosed on Monday that it had eliminated six senior members of Palestinian group Hamas since the beginning of Israel's operation in the Gaza Strip during the latest escalation of the conflict.
The IDF said that among those eliminated were those close to the Palestinian leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Yahya Sinwar, and those responsible for the attack on southern Israeli settlements at the beginning of the escalation on October 7.
The list of liquidated Hamas members includes the head of Hamas' department of internal relations Zachariah Abu Ma'amar, the organization's economy minister Joad Abu Shmalah, Commander of Hamas' "Nukhba" special unit Ali Qadi, the air commander of the "Nukhba" unit Murad Abu Murad, and two other high-ranking commanders, according to the IDF.
At the same time, the IDF on Monday announced the arrest of 20 Hamas members in an overnight operation, bringing the total number of detainees to 360 since October 7, The Times of Israel reported.
The report said that 210 of the 360 arrested had links to Hamas forces.
On October 7, Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to declare a state of war the following day and launch retaliatory strikes. Israel has reported over 1,400 deaths, while the death toll in Gaza has reached 2,750. Thousands of injured have been reported on both sides as a result of the escalation.
Over the weekend, the Israeli military called on Gazans to evacuate from the enclave's north and head south, warning of imminent attacks on Hamas targets. Numerous international organizations and rights groups decried the ultimatum, saying mass displacement would have grave humanitarian consequences. Over 600,000 Palestinians in Gaza have followed Israel's evacuation warning, media reported, citing the Israeli military.