Rafah Brigade commander linked to planning October 7 attack killed in Israeli strike

Samir Abu Younis, commander of the Rafah Brigade, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza, Hamas’s armed wing announced.

The strike took place on Saturday in Al-Mawasi, near Khan Yunis. The Israeli military and the Shin Bet domestic security service initially said they had targeted a senior Hamas military officer but did not name him. The Al-Qassam Brigades later identified him and confirmed his death.

According to international media reports, Abu Younis was on a road in the area at the time of the strike. Other people were also wounded and taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis for treatment.

The 53-year-old was among Hamas’s senior leaders. The organization says he took part in planning and overseeing the October 7, 2023, attack against Israel. The Al-Qassam Brigades described him as one of the most important figures involved in that process.

Abu Younis took command of the Rafah Brigade after the death of his predecessor, Nayel Abu Obeid, in September. He joined Hamas’s armed wing in 1991 and, according to the organization, later held several senior operational posts in the Rafah area.

The Israeli military claims he directed members of the Rafah Brigade in attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. Abu Younis is also suspected of having been involved in efforts to rebuild the organization’s operational capabilities.

His killing comes as Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip have continued despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025. Both sides accuse each other of violating the agreement’s terms.