Israel announces the death of a Hamas member who was a “central figure” in the “hostage holding” in Gaza

The Israeli Army announced this Friday the death of a “company commander” of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), whom it accuses of “being a central figure” in the “holding of hostages” in the Gaza Strip after the attacks of October 7, 2023, within the framework of a bombing launched on Thursday against the Khan Yunis area, located in the south of the enclave.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have indicated in a statement that the man, identified as Anas Mahmud Ahmed Hamdan, was “a central figure in the holding of hostages in the Gaza Strip and in the process of their return to Israel”, before noting that he was also “responsible for Hamas propaganda in the Khan Younis Brigade.

“Hamdan served for years and during the war as the ‘right-hand man’ of some senior officials of the military branch of Hamas, Muhamad Deif and Rafé Salamé,” he stressed, before adding that he was also involved in the “retention” of Avera Mengitsu, who was captured in September 2014 after crossing the border with Gaza.

Likewise, he pointed out that the suspect “was involved in the training of terrorists and attempted to promote terrorist plans against the IDF and citizens of the State of Israel.” “The terrorist posed a threat to the forces operating in Gaza and was eliminated in a precise bombing,” he added.