Senior Hamas commander Samir Abu Younis killed in Israeli strike on Khan Younis

Hamas confirmed that its Rafah brigade commander, Samir Abu Younis, was killed in an Israeli air strike on the al‑Mawasi area of Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Saturday.

Israel’s military and the Shin Bet security agency said the operation targeted a senior Hamas military commander in a drone strike on the same day. Hamas later identified the victim as a senior member of its armed wing.

The strike hit a tent sheltering displaced people, wounding two others who were taken to Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis. Video verified by Al Jazeera showed ambulances on the hospital grounds and stretchers appearing stained with blood.

Al‑Mawasi, a coastal strip on the Mediterranean, is densely populated with displaced Palestinians living in tents. Despite being designated a humanitarian zone, the area has been repeatedly attacked.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that Israeli attacks have killed 16 people and injured 68 in the past 48 hours. Since the ceasefire that began on 11 October 2025, at least 1,643 Palestinians have been killed and 5,964 injured, with 850 bodies recovered from rubble. Since the conflict began in October 2023, the ministry says 74,695 people have been killed and 176,093 injured.

Source: Al Jazeera. Photo: Hosny salah / Pexels.