The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced that the commander of Hamas in the Jabalia area was killed in an airstrike. According to a joint statement by the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service), Ibrahim Biari was killed during the Israeli aircraft raid in the Gaza Strip.
The statement says that “many terrorists” were killed alongside Biari, and the bombardment caused the collapse of an underground shelter they were using as a launching pad for their attacks.
Earlier, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip had announced that at least 50 people were killed in Israeli strikes in the Jabalia encampment area.
Hamas Hostage Release
In a video message today, Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, announced the release of hostages in the coming days, hinting that they would not be Israelis but citizens of other countries.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the military wing of the Palestinian Islamist organization disputed yesterday’s announcement by the Israeli armed forces (IDF) regarding the release of a woman. Abu Obeida claimed that Ori Megidish – the Israeli army sergeant who, according to a joint statement by the IDF and Shin Bet, was freed yesterday in an operation in the Gaza Strip – was not among the captives of the Al-Qassam Brigades.
Reiterating threats that the Gaza Strip will become a “graveyard” for Israeli soldiers, the Hamas military spokesperson warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would face a “crushing defeat” that would mark the end of his political career.
