Israel Unleashes Precision Fury: Top Hamas Commanders Eliminated After Ceasefire Breach Blitz

By: Fern Sidman – Jewish Voice News

Israeli forces again found themselves under direct fire on Wednesday as Hamas operatives launched a sniper attack near Khan Younis, further undermining the fragile ceasefire framework that has defined recent months of tense quiet along the Gaza perimeter. According to a report that appeared on Thursday on the United With Israel website, IDF troops operating near the yellow line — the demarcation separating Israeli-controlled zones from areas still held by Hamas — were unexpectedly targeted from beyond the boundary. Although no Israeli soldiers were injured, the military characterized the incident as a “blatant violation of the ceasefire” and initiated a series of coordinated retaliatory operations across the Gaza Strip.

The morning had already been marked by another attempted infiltration in northern Gaza, where a Hamas terrorist crossed the yellow line and posed what the IDF described as an “immediate threat” to ground forces. As United With Israel reported, IDF units quickly identified the armed operative and neutralized him moments after he entered the restricted zone. Several additional terrorists who crossed alongside him managed to flee back into Hamas-controlled territory, prompting heightened alertness along the boundary and a swift escalation in IDF operational activity.

In response to both the infiltration attempt and the afternoon sniper assault near Khan Younis, the IDF mounted a series of targeted airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, focusing primarily on Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood and the al-Mawasi area near Khan Younis. According to the information provided in the United With Israel report, the strikes were coordinated by the Southern Command, guided by intelligence from the Shin Bet, and carried out by the Israeli Air Force with precision munitions.

The IDF stated that the attacks successfully hit high-ranking Hamas military figures, including the terror group’s deputy brigade commander, the Zeitoun battalion commander, and the head of Hamas’s naval unit. These strikes were part of a broader effort to degrade Hamas’s command structure and eliminate operatives involved in recent violations of the ceasefire.

Palestinian sources quoted by United With Israel acknowledged that at least eight Hamas operatives were killed in the targeted strikes. Medical officials in Gaza claimed a higher total number of fatalities — at least 28 — though those figures included individuals not identified by Hamas as terrorists.

For the IDF, Wednesday’s incidents were not isolated events but rather part of a broader pattern of ceasefire violations attributed to Hamas since the truce was instituted. Hamas has repeatedly engaged in activities that undermine the agreement, including firing on IDF units, orchestrating infiltration attempts, and refusing to release the bodies of three Israeli hostages — an obligation stipulated under the terms of the ceasefire.

The IDF’s official statement underscored this ongoing trend: “Our forces were fired upon in a blatant violation of the ceasefire. In response, the IDF, led by the Southern Command, guided by the Shin Bet, and using the Air Force, began striking Hamas terrorist targets across the Gaza Strip.”

These violations, as reported by United With Israel, have compounded Israeli concerns about Hamas’s operational intent, fueling anxieties that the terror organization is exploiting the calm to rebuild its military infrastructure while simultaneously testing Israeli readiness.

The retaliatory campaign launched Wednesday afternoon reflected a level of operational coordination designed to send a clear message. The IDF targeted multiple layers of Hamas’s military network, focusing specifically on command nodes and operational personnel known to direct or facilitate attacks on Israeli forces.

In Gaza City’s Zeitoun district — a longstanding Hamas stronghold — the IDF targeted the group’s local battalion commander. The Zeitoun brigade has been linked to numerous attacks on Israeli troops over the years, and the commander’s elimination was described in the United With Israel report as a significant operational setback for Hamas.

In al-Mawasi, the strikes aimed at the deputy brigade commander and the head of Hamas’s naval unit — individuals identified by the IDF as central to the planning and execution of recent ceasefire violations. The naval official in particular had been involved in efforts to rebuild Hamas’s maritime capabilities, an area of ongoing Israeli concern.

These strikes occurred in parallel to intensified surveillance along the yellow line and reinforced troop deployment in sectors where earlier infiltration attempts had taken place. As reported by United With Israel, IDF ground units were instructed to maintain elevated readiness levels and to prepare for further attempts by Hamas operatives to cross into restricted zones.

Hamas condemned the Israeli strikes and appealed to the United States to “fulfill its commitments” under the ceasefire agreement. However, the terror group’s appeal stood in stark contrast to its own actions, which for weeks have included sniper attacks, infiltration operations, and ongoing violations of the requirement to disarm and return the bodies of hostages.

In its coverage, United With Israel emphasized that Hamas’s pattern of behavior has eroded the trust necessary to maintain a stable ceasefire environment. Even as the terror group publicly accuses Israel of violating the truce, the documented sniper fire and attempted crossings reveal a sustained effort to probe Israeli defenses and disrupt the fragile quiet that has held since the initial agreement was implemented.

The IDF reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Israeli civilians and soldiers from all threats emanating from Gaza. The military emphasized that the ceasefire would not inhibit its readiness or its ability to respond decisively when attacked. “We will continue to operate with full force to eliminate any threat to the State of Israel,” the IDF said.

This message draws attention to Israel’s position that ceasefire arrangements cannot serve as shields for terror activity. Rather, any violation — whether sniper fire, infiltration, or refusal to comply with the release of hostages — constitutes grounds for immediate and decisive response.

The events of Wednesday illustrate the volatility of the current ceasefire framework and the ongoing challenges faced by Israeli forces operating along the Gaza perimeter. The current environment is marked by sporadic attacks, operational uncertainty, and a persistent threat from Hamas operatives who appear committed to probing Israeli defenses and testing the limits of the ceasefire.

The IDF’s response — targeted, coordinated, and unapologetically forceful — reflects Israel’s determination to deter future attacks and maintain strategic control along the border. Yet with each new incident, the durability of the ceasefire remains uncertain, and the possibility of further escalation looms.

For now, Israeli officials are clear: any attack will be met with swift retaliation, and the IDF will continue to act decisively to protect the country’s security.