Overview
- Israeli forces, which struck on Friday, said they eliminated Zaki Youssef Mahmoud Abu Mustafa and separately killed Mohammed Osama al‑Eish in targeted strikes in southern Gaza.
- The military released a photo it says shows Abu Mustafa inside Israeli territory during the Oct. 7 abduction of child hostage Yagil Yaakov and identified him as a Nukhba commander in the Khan Yunis brigade.
- Officials said Abu Mustafa had worked in recent months to restore militant capabilities and that al‑Eish was involved in training and recruiting Hamas operatives.
- The IDF and Israel Security Agency said they used precision munitions, aerial surveillance and other measures to limit civilian harm and that Southern Command troops remain deployed in the area.
- Reporting relies mainly on Israeli statements and released material, independent on‑the‑ground verification is limited, and the strikes continue a broader campaign aimed at degrading commanders, finance and technical nodes tied to Oct. 7.