Hamas is rebuilding, not just surviving: behind the killing of Khan Younis commander
The Israeli military’s strike on Nasser Hospital in the Gaza Strip overnight Wednesday into Thursday targeted a Hamas effort to rebuild its Khan Younis Brigade and restore its operational capabilities, according to Israeli security officials. They said Abu Ismail, who was appointed commander of the brigade, had recently been working to rebuild its military structure, assembling a team of commanders, establishing a new command hierarchy and creating an organizational framework that would allow Hamas to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel.
Abu Ismail, who previously commanded the battalions that raided Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7, had been under Israeli military surveillance since his time as a battalion commander. After his appointment as brigade commander, rebuilding the brigade became one of his main priorities. The military identified efforts to gather commanders and operatives around him, rebuild the chain of command and establish a force capable of carrying out terrorist operations in the Khan Younis area.
Beyond survival, an effort to rebuild For Israeli security officials, those efforts indicate that Hamas is doing more than trying to survive the heavy losses it suffered during the war. The organization is attempting to rebuild its military capabilities, restore its command-and-control systems and create conditions that would allow it to resume organized operations. Abu Ismail was one of those leading that effort in southern Gaza. As part of his attempt to restore the brigade’s operations, Abu Ismail moved his headquarters from Khan Younis to Nasser Hospital.
According to security officials, he sought to use the medical compound as a hiding place and shelter from Israeli strikes. The military tracked him for some time, launching the strike once operational conditions allowed it to target him. Security officials said the building contained no medical equipment and was struck with a precision munition that did not damage medical equipment. The military said scans had been conducted to verify those details.
Security officials stressed that the effort to rebuild the Khan Younis Brigade was not an isolated development but part of broader Hamas attempts to regroup across Gaza. The military identified efforts to recruit operatives, reestablish command structures, manufacture and store weapons, and resume training. In response, it continued targeting weapons production facilities, arms depots and operatives involved in rebuilding the organization’s military strength.
The overarching mission of the Israeli military and its Southern Command remains to disarm Hamas and dismantle its military capabilities. But security officials say the organization has not abandoned its military ambitions or moved toward disarmament, and systematic efforts to restore its capabilities are evident on the ground. In their assessment, Abu Ismail’s attempt to rebuild the Khan Younis Brigade illustrates the gap between commitments made under the agreements and the actions Hamas continues to pursue. ‘A key figure on the second floor’ Southern Command’s fire control center oversaw the unusual strike from start to finish.
Its target, Abu Ismail, was also responsible for holding numerous hostages during the war, including Nimrod Cohen, Matan Zangauker, Edan Alexander, Avera Mengistu, Col. Asaf Hamami, Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel and Capt. Omer Neutra. Hamami, Daniel and Neutra were killed. Other terrorists in the compound were also targeted, including Murad Tawfiq Mahmoud Abu Zarifa, a team leader in the engineering department of the combat and administrative support company, and Khaled Osama Abu Anza, head of the communications section in the operations department of Hamas’ intelligence headquarters.
The strike took place shortly after midnight. Soon afterward, media outlets around the world began reporting on an Israeli strike on a hospital in Gaza. The reports included criticism of Israel’s policies in Gaza and allegations that innocent people had been harmed. Only in the morning did the Israeli military issue a formal statement presenting its assertion that Hamas had used the hospital compound for military activity. Explaining the strike, which drew international headlines, the military said: “Before the strike, precautionary measures were taken to minimize harm to the hospital building and uninvolved civilians as much as possible.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article never says the strike killed at least six people, including a surgeon and medical staff, and wounded dozens. Without this a reader believes the strike hit only the Hamas men the military named.
How we know
- ABC News (US) reported“Rezik Abushira, who was killed in an Israeli strike at Nasser Hospital”Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital kills 6 people, Hamas-run health ministry says (opens in a new tab)
- Times of Israel reported“killed at least six people and wounded at least 20 others”Israeli strike on southern Gaza hospital kills 6, Hamas authorities say (opens in a new tab)
The strike also specifically targeted the room from which the brigade commander and the terrorists were conducting military operations.” The military added: “Before carrying out the strike, the IDF repeatedly warned and demanded that military activity at the hospital cease, on several occasions, including recently.” According to the military, “The hospital’s second floor serves as a Hamas military headquarters. Civilians are not allowed to enter, and it is heavily guarded because it is used by the organization’s commanders, including Mohammed Abu Ismail.
During the war, many dozens of hostages were held at Nasser Hospital, many of them from Kibbutz Nahal Oz, including women, children, older adults and foreign nationals.”
Left out here: Drops what it reported before
The day before, Ynet reported that the allegations about Hamas activity inside the hospital could not be independently verified. This article drops that caveat, so a reader believes the military's account is established.
How we know
- Ynet News (English) wrote earlier“The allegations concerning Hamas' activities inside the hospital could not be independently verified.”IDF says Hamas used Gaza hospital as command center, details strike on senior commander (opens in a new tab)