45 Hamas Terrorists Killed Over Last Day, Including Smuggling Commander

Jerusalem, 6 August, 2024 (TPS) -- Israeli soldiers eliminated 45 terrorists over the last day, including a Hamas smuggling commander, the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday.

Mohammed Mahasneh was responsible for Hamas’s smuggling operations, including bringing military equipment in and out of Gaza. According to the army, Mahasneh was primarily involved in smuggling operations by sea, but was also involved in bringing equipment through tunnels and border crossings.

“His elimination significantly degrades the capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization to smuggle equipment into the Gaza Strip,” the army said.

On Sunday, the army announced the discovery of a large smuggling tunnel on the Gaza-Egypt border large enough to drive vehicles through.

The airstrike came on the heels of airstrikes that killed Hamas’s Economy Minister Abed Al-Zeriei and Jaber Aziz, who commanded Hamas’ Al-Furqan Battalion. Aziz played a significant role in planning and participating in Hamas’s October 7 attack.

Meanwhile, 25 terrorists in the Rafah area and 20 more in central Gaza were killed in airstrikes and close-quarters combat, the army added.

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 115 remaining hostages, 39 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.