The Israeli military has eliminated a Hamas commander in central Gaza who, according to the military, played a key role in efforts to restore the terrorist organization’s tunnel network, which was damaged during the war.
Sharif al-Hasanat, killed on Saturday in the Deir al-Balah area, was identified by the Israel Defense Forces as a company commander in Hamas’s military wing’s Deir al-Balah Battalion. During the war, al-Hasanat reportedly played a leading role in efforts to restore the terrorist organization’s underground infrastructure.
🔴ELIMINATED: Sharif al-Hasanat, a company commander in Hamas.
Throughout the war, he took part in leading efforts to restore Hamas’ underground infrastructure & recently continued to advance terror attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.
He posed an immediate threat… pic.twitter.com/bU7PRu6rVz
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 22, 2026
In recent times as well, the Hamas commander continued to advance terror attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians. According to the military, he posed an immediate threat to Israeli troops stationed in the Gaza Strip and was therefore targeted and eliminated.
Prior to the strike, measures were taken to reduce the risk to uninvolved civilians. These included the use of precision munitions and aerial surveillance.
Israeli troops from the Southern Command remain stationed in the Gaza Strip in accordance with current agreements. The military stated that it will continue to act against immediate threats to its soldiers and the Israeli civilian population.
The death of al-Hasanat is part of a series of targeted Israeli operations against Hamas commanders who continue to be involved in rebuilding the organization’s military structures and preparing new attacks, despite the current agreements.
On Friday, the military had already announced the elimination of another Hamas commander. Sabahi Sami Mahmoud Shahata, a platoon commander in Hamas’s military wing, was killed two days earlier in an Israeli strike in the Nuseirat area in central Gaza.
🔴ELIMINATED: Sabahi Sami Mahmoud Shahata, a platoon commander in Hamas’ military wing.
Sabahi infiltrated Israel & participated in the October 7 Massacre. He took part in holding numerous hostages in Hamas captivity. Additionally, he attempted to advance terror attacks against… pic.twitter.com/mrFeZgflDl
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 21, 2026
Shahata infiltrated Israel on October 7, 2023 and participated in the massacre. During the subsequent war, he was also involved in holding several Israeli hostages captive.
In November 2023, Shahata participated in one of the handovers staged by Hamas as part of the then-current agreement on the release of Israeli hostages, during which released hostages were handed over to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, according to the IDF.
Shahata had also recently attempted to prepare new attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians. The military stated that the strike against him was carried out to eliminate this threat.
In addition, there were further incidents in recent days along the so-called Yellow Line, behind which Israeli forces are currently stationed. On Friday, soldiers in central Gaza identified a Hamas terrorist armed with a knife who was approaching the line and subsequently crossed it. The soldiers apprehended the man; he was taken to Israel for questioning.
In a further incident in southern Gaza, a terrorist also crossed the Yellow Line and approached Israeli soldiers in a manner that was classified as an immediate threat, according to the military. The soldiers then opened fire and killed the man.
The recent incidents also highlight one of the central problems in efforts to reach a lasting arrangement for the Gaza Strip: Hamas’s still-existing military infrastructure. Despite heavy losses during the war, the terrorist organization is attempting to rebuild parts of its structures, according to Israeli intelligence — most notably the extensive underground tunnel system.
⭕️ 2 Hamas underground tunnel routes in Gaza, with a combined length of 2km+, were sealed by the IDF as part of the effort to neutralize Hamas’ tunnel network in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/swCgdYtFCV
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 19, 2026
Israel has repeatedly made clear that, in its view, the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip must not go hand in hand with the rebuilding of Hamas’s military capabilities. The Israeli military is therefore continuing its operations against terrorists who, according to its intelligence, pose an immediate threat or are involved in restoring Hamas’s military infrastructure.
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