Israeli Military Kills Hamas Naval Police Commander in Gaza Airstrike

The Israeli army and security services issued a joint statement reporting an airstrike in central Gaza on Friday that resulted in the death of Mansour Sami Mahmoud Shahtout, the commander of Hamas’s naval police.

The statement added that two other commanders of the Hamas naval police were also killed in the operation, noting that the naval force operates under the umbrella of Hamas’s military wing.

According to the statement, Shahtout and the two other leaders were traveling in an armed vehicle and were considered a threat to Israeli forces operating in Gaza.

The army confirmed that it took measures prior to the strike to minimize harm to civilians, including the use of precision munitions and aerial surveillance.

It also noted that the Israeli Southern Command forces are deployed in the area according to an agreement and affirmed their intention to continue operations aimed at eliminating what it described as direct threats.