Israel Says it Killed Top ISIS Commander in Gaza Strike
The Israeli military said it killed Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Abu Zubaida, the most senior Islamic State official in Gaza, in an airstrike in the Al-Bureij area of central Gaza last week.
In a statement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the operation was directed by Southern Command and guided by the Military Intelligence Directorate.
According to the IDF, Abu Zubaida was “responsible for determining policy, planning and overseeing the terrorist organization’s activities across Gaza, Judea and Samaria, and the Sinai Peninsula, and for transferring combat equipment and funds into Gaza.”
Abu Zubaida’s death follows a July U.S. raid in Syria that killed senior ISIS figure Dhiya’ Zawba Muslih al-Hardani, and an August operation that killed Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, regarded as the group’s likely future leader.
Abu Zubaida’s death came as the IDF intensified operations to take control of Gaza City.
On Monday, Israel pushed tanks deeper into Gaza City and detonated explosives-laden vehicles in one suburb, while airstrikes killed at least 19 people the previous day, according to Palestinian officials and witnesses.
Health officials said Israeli operations in Gaza over the past 24 hours killed at least 98 people, including nine from starvation, raising the total death toll to more than 63,000 Palestinians.
