🪖 IDF ELIMINATES SENIOR OCTOBER 7 HAMAS COMMANDERS IN GAZA; EASTERN BORDER READINESS AND WARTIME DISCIPLINE MEASURES INTENSIFY
❌ Senior Hamas Military Commander Eliminated in Gaza: The IDF and ISA announced the elimination of Izz al-Din al-Haddad in a precise strike in Gaza City on Friday. Haddad served as head of Hamas’ military wing following the elimination of Mohammed Sinwar and was identified by Israel as one of the principal planners of the October 7 massacre.
According to the IDF, Haddad worked in recent months to rebuild Hamas’ military capabilities and plan additional attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Israeli officials stated that he played a central role in managing Hamas’ hostage captivity system throughout the war and reportedly surrounded himself with hostages in attempts to deter Israeli strikes.
Haddad previously commanded the Gaza City Brigade and was described as one of Hamas’ longest-serving senior military figures and among the final senior commanders directly involved in planning and executing the October 7 attack.
🇮🇱 Chief of Staff Signals Continued Pursuit of October 7 Operatives: Following the strike, IDF Chief of Staff LTG Eyal Zamir described the elimination of Haddad as a significant operational achievement involving the Southern Command, Israeli intelligence, the Israeli Air Force, and the ISA.
Zamir stated that Haddad’s name repeatedly arose during conversations with released hostages and said the IDF would continue pursuing all those involved in the October 7 massacre. He instructed the Southern Command to maintain high operational readiness and respond immediately to threats against IDF troops or Israeli territory.
❌ Additional October 7 Participants Eliminated: Over the past two weeks, the IDF eliminated Hamer Iyad Muhammad Almatouk and Khaled Muhammad Salem Joudeh in separate strikes in northern Gaza. According to the IDF, both infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre and recently attempted to carry out attacks against IDF troops before being eliminated.
Earlier this week, the IDF also eliminated Abd al-Rahman Mahmoud Jumaa Shaafi, a Hamas Bureij Battalion operative involved in advancing attacks against IDF troops in central Gaza.
🪖 General Staff Exercise Reviews Eastern Border Readiness: A surprise General Staff exercise held Friday along the eastern border focused on preparedness for surprise attack scenarios, including terrorist infiltrations into communities, drone threats, and incidents near the Dead Sea region.
Fighter jets and combat helicopters conducted dozens of rapid aerial strikes during the drill, while special forces were deployed by air for rapid intervention inside civilian areas. Israeli Air Force special forces also simulated a terrorist infiltration at a regional hotel.
An initial IDF assessment concluded that reinforced eastern border defense frameworks and updated operational procedures implemented following the lessons of October 7 contributed to the exercise’s successful response. The IDF stated that a detailed review process will now examine operational gaps and improve readiness across multiple threat scenarios.
📘 Zamir Emphasizes Discipline, Cohesion, and Wartime Readiness: During the exercise, LTG Eyal Zamir stressed that military discipline, professionalism, organization, and unity remain central to the IDF’s wartime operational strength. He described the past two and a half years of war as an unprecedented test of military values, cohesion, and organizational resilience.
Zamir warned that without strict discipline and structure, “the framework could fall apart,” and emphasized that adherence to procedures is what keeps the IDF strong and professional during prolonged wartime conditions. Referring to the Israeli flag as the symbol uniting all soldiers, he stated that the IDF remains bound together by shared mission and sacrifice.
Quoting David Ben-Gurion, Zamir added: “Discipline for an army is like air for breathing.”
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