The Israel Defense Forces have confirmed the death of a high-ranking Hamas official, Imad Hassan Hussein Aslim, who played a pivotal role in orchestrating the October 7 attacks on Israel. This development was announced on Friday, highlighting a significant moment in the ongoing conflict.
Aslim, who led the Zeitoun Battalion within Hamas’ military branch, met his end during a coordinated airstrike by the IDF and Israel’s security agency, Shin Bet, in northern Gaza on Wednesday. The IDF elaborated on Aslim’s involvement, stating, “He commanded the battalion’s infiltration into Israel during the October 7 Massacre and was responsible for planning multiple imminent assaults against IDF soldiers.”
The military further emphasized Aslim’s persistent threat, noting that “in recent years, and especially lately, he had orchestrated numerous terror attacks against IDF forces operating in the Gaza Strip, posing an immediate danger.”
Following his death, Aslim’s funeral took place in Gaza City on Thursday, where Hamas supporters gathered to mourn his passing. His death marks a significant blow to Hamas’ military operations.
In the same airstrike, another commander, Izz ad-Din Beck, was reportedly in the area. However, it remains unclear whether he was also killed during the operation.
Another commander, Izz ad-Din Beck, was reportedly present at the time of the strike – but it’s not known if he was killed.
“The results of the elimination are under review,” the Israeli military said.
The Southern Command, which defends Israel’s southern borders, remain deployed in the area, and “will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” the IDF vowed.
Israeli forces have announced the elimination of a slew of senior Hamas officials in recent days.
Hamas moneyman Ihab Khrizim was killed in Khan Yunis — which is located on the southern Gaza Strip and Gaza’s second-largest city — on Tuesday.
He was responsible for “managing the transfer of millions of dollars to Hamas’s military wing” and continued to “violate the ceasefire agreement,” according to the IDF.
“His actions enabled the promotion and execution of terror plots in the immediate timeframe against IDF forces operating in the Gaza Strip and civilians of the State of Israel,” military officials said.
“The elimination of Khrizim constitutes a blow to the terror organization Hamas’s attempts at rehabilitation and empowerment.”
Israel’s military announced that Hamas terrorist Mohammed al-Habash, who made weapons for the terror group, was also killed.
Mohammed Odeh, who was also a key figure in Hamas’ military wing who was tied to the October 7, 2023, attack, was killed Tuesday, along with his wife and two of his children.
Odeh led Hamas’ intelligence unit during the massacre and had been appointed about a week earlier to replace Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza on May 15.
“Odeh was responsible for the murder, abduction, and wounding of many Israeli citizens and IDF soldiers,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
