The IDF killed a top Hamas commander and dozens of fighters in a Rafah tunnel raid
Israeli forces have killed a senior Hamas commander and dozens of other fighters during a major operation targeting a tunnel network in Rafah, southern Gaza. The strike dealt a serious blow to the militant group’s command structure in an area now under Israeli control. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released details of the operation on Thursday, confirming the death of a key figure involved in the October 7 attacks.
The operation highlights the intense and difficult combat taking place beneath the city’s surface. It’s a different kind of war. Israeli troops are systematically working to clear the extensive underground infrastructure used by Hamas for movement, command, and attacks.
Targeted Strike Eliminates Key Hamas Figure
A precision strike on Sunday successfully eliminated Muhammad Jawad Muhammad al-Bawab, the commander of Hamas’s Eastern Rafah Battalion. He was not alone. Three other senior militants, including al-Bawab’s deputy, were killed alongside him as the group emerged from a tunnel shaft.
The IDF identified al-Bawab as a critical figure in the Hamas organization. He played a role in planning and executing the October 7 Massacre and continued to direct attacks against Israeli troops operating inside the Gaza Strip throughout the war.
In a Thursday release, the IDF stated that Israeli troops killed Muhammad Jawad Muhammad al-Bawab, commander of Hamas’ Eastern Rafah Battalion, who helped execute the October 7 Massacre and attacked IDF troops in Gaza through the course of the Israel-Hamas War.
The removal of a battalion commander and his immediate circle disrupts the chain of command. Such a loss can create confusion and hamper the ability of the remaining fighters to coordinate defensive or offensive actions in that sector.
Wider Operations in Rafah’s Tunnel Network
The targeted killing of al-Bawab was part of a much larger effort. Israeli forces have been heavily engaged in locating and neutralizing Hamas fighters operating from the subterranean passages beneath Rafah. The IDF confirmed that its troops killed over 40 Hamas operatives who were using these tunnels to evade capture and stage attacks.
These engagements are taking place in a part of southern Gaza that the IDF says it now controls, allowing for more methodical clearing operations. The tunnel systems have long been a core component of Hamas’s military strategy, offering protection from airstrikes and enabling surprise attacks on Israeli ground forces. Dismantling this network is a primary objective of the Israeli military’s Rafah campaign.
- Strategic Goal: To dismantle Hamas’s command and control infrastructure.
- Operational Focus: Locating and clearing subterranean tunnel networks.
- Reported Outcome: Over 40 Hamas fighters killed in recent tunnel operations.
- Key Kill: The commander of the Eastern Rafah Battalion.
The Siege on Underground Fighters
The situation underground has been developing for some time. According to information from both Israeli and U.S. officials, a large contingent of Hamas fighters became trapped deep within the Rafah tunnel system months ago. The initial number was estimated to be around 200 operatives.
They were effectively cut off. For weeks, these fighters have faced a difficult choice with dwindling supplies and mounting pressure from IDF operations on the surface. Israeli media reports indicate that some of the trapped individuals have chosen to emerge from the tunnels. This has led to direct clashes with Israeli forces waiting for them, while others have opted to surrender.
The recent operations, including the killing of over 40 fighters, suggest that the IDF is successfully capitalizing on this pressure. Forces are either eliminating the militants as they surface or confronting them directly within the underground passages. The campaign to neutralize this trapped force remains a central part of the battle for Rafah.