Over 1,600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, according to figures reported by nos.nl.
A senior Hamas military commander was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis on Saturday, Hamas sources reported to nos.nl. Medical functionaries told Investing.com that the strike hit a street in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis, leaving several others injured.
The 53-year-old commander was identified as Samir Abu Younis, who served as the commander of the Rafah brigade within the Al-Qassam Brigades, Investing.com reported. Hamas said that Abu Younis joined the organization’s military wing in 1991 and held several high-level operational positions in Rafah before taking command of the brigade.
‼️🏥 Hamas’ exploitation of the Nasser Hospital: The hospital’s second floor serves as a Hamas military HQ, where civilians are not permitted to enter, as it is used by Hamas commanders, including Muhammad Abu Ismail, the Khan Yunis Brigade Commander who was targeted in the… pic.twitter.com/jlHufqyyUo
Hamas confirmed the death in a statement, noting his involvement in planning the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. "Hij zou betrokken zijn geweest bij het plannen van de grootschalige aanval door Hamas op Israël," nos.nl reported. The Israel Defense Forces separately reported carrying out an overnight strike targeting a senior commander of the Hamas military wing without naming him.
Strike Impacts Khan Younis
The strike in the Mawasi area of Khan Younis resulted in multiple injuries alongside the death of Abu Younis.
The military wing of Hamas announced that Abu Younis’s funeral would take place on Sunday afternoon in Khan Younis, according to Investing.com.
Ceasefire Tension Persists
Despite the ceasefire agreed upon by Israel and Hamas in October 2025, regular violence continues across the Gaza Strip. nos.nl said that Israel has not halted its military strikes, while Hamas refuses to surrender its weapons or cede full control of the territory.
Health authorities in Gaza report that at least 1,600 Palestinians have died in military operations since the ceasefire began. Meanwhile, Investing.com said that five Israeli soldiers have died during the same period.
Hospital Compound Allegations
The Israel Defense Forces published findings regarding the use of Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis by Hamas during the conflict. The military said that the medical facility served as a military headquarters where dozens of Israeli and foreign hostages were held.
Commanders including Muhammad Abu Ismail, identified by the Israel Defense Forces as the Khan Yunis Brigade Commander targeted in a separate recent strike, operated from the hospital’s second floor. The military asserted that warnings to halt military activity at the hospital were issued prior to operations.
Who Was Samir Abu Younis and When Did the Ceasefire Begin?
Who was Samir Abu Younis?
Samir Abu Younis was a 53-year-old commander of the Rafah brigade within Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, who joined the organization in 1991.
When did the current ceasefire begin?
Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire in October 2025, though sporadic military operations and casualties have continued.
How many casualties have occurred since the ceasefire?
Health authorities in Gaza report at least 1,600 Palestinian deaths, while reports indicate five Israeli soldiers have died during the same timeframe.
What did the military allege about Nasser Hospital?
The Israel Defense Forces said that Hamas used the second floor of Nasser Hospital as a military headquarters and held dozens of Israeli and foreign hostages inside the facility.
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