Hamas Commander Killed in Gaza as West Bank Raids Continue
Farah Hamed died in an Israeli strike while forces raided Tuqu and fired near Jabalia camp.
Hamas announced the death of senior commander Farah Hamed following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Wednesday. The al-Qassam Brigades member was killed in the Sheikh Ajlin area, marking a significant loss for the group’s military council in the occupied territories.
Palestinian media reports indicated that Hamed died due to heavy shelling on Al-Rashid Street. This location is situated southwest of Gaza City, where intense combat operations have been ongoing. The strike targeted a high-ranking official within the militant group’s leadership structure.
Hamed originally hailed from Silwad, a town located east of Ramallah in the West Bank. He had been deported to the Gaza Strip after his release in 2011. This release was part of the prisoner exchange deal for kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
In northern Gaza, Israeli military helicopters opened fire early Thursday near the Jabalia refugee camp. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported the incident, highlighting the continued aerial pressure on densely populated areas. The strikes occurred just hours after the commander’s death was confirmed.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces raided the town of Tuqu, southeast of Bethlehem, shortly after midnight. Soldiers set up a military checkpoint in the town center, which triggered immediate confrontations with local Palestinian youth. The raid disrupted daily life and caused tension among residents.
Troops chased young men through neighborhood streets and fired sound grenades to disperse crowds. They detained a twenty-four-year-old resident during the operation and took him to an unknown destination. The arrest added to growing concerns about arbitrary detentions in the region.
The forces also raided areas surrounding Palestinian residents’ homes before withdrawing. The operation lasted about two hours, ending as troops moved toward the western entrance of Tuqu. Wafa reported that the raid caused significant distress but no further casualties were mentioned.
These events underscore the escalating violence across both Gaza and the West Bank. The death of a key commander alongside nightly raids demonstrates the broad scope of current military operations. Residents face continuous threats from airstrikes, ground incursions, and arbitrary arrests.