Israel’s military says it has killed Samir Abu Younis, a senior Hamas commander accused of playing a role in planning and overseeing the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Younis, 53, who led Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, was killed on Saturday, November 14, 2026, in an Israeli airstrike in the Al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza.
Hamas’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed his death and described him as one of the senior commanders involved in planning and supervising the October 7 attack.
The strike took place in a street in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis. Medical workers said Abu Younis was killed and several other people were wounded. The Israeli military and Shin Bet security agency confirmed carrying out the operation, saying they had targeted a senior Hamas military figure.
Israel said Abu Younis was responsible for rebuilding the Rafah Brigade’s military capabilities and preparing attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers. It added that measures, including the use of precision weapons and aerial surveillance, had been taken to reduce the risk of civilian casualties.
The Al-Qassam Brigades described Abu Younis as a veteran commander who had taken part in several Hamas military operations. He became head of the Rafah Brigade on September 15, 2026, following the killing of his predecessor, Nael Abu Obeid, in an Israeli strike.
Hamas said Abu Younis joined its armed wing in 1991 and went on to hold several senior operational positions in the Rafah area before becoming brigade commander.
The October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israel killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 others taken hostage. The assault triggered Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which has caused widespread destruction and a large number of casualties.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health has reported more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began. Although a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025 halted major fighting, Israeli strikes have continued. Gaza health authorities say at least 1,600 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire began.