Hamas confirmed the death of Samir Abu Younis, whose killing underscores the continuing violence under Gaza’s incomplete ceasefire

GAZA STRIP — International News Service – An Israeli airstrike has killed Samir Mahmoud Hassan Abu Younis, the commander of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, Israeli authorities and Hamas said Sunday.

The Israeli military and Shin Bet security agency said the strike was conducted shortly after midnight in southern Gaza. Hamas confirmed Abu Younis’s death and announced plans for a funeral.

Abu Younis had led the Rafah Brigade for about two months. His predecessor, Nael Abu Obeid, was killed in an Israeli strike on September 15.

Israel described Abu Younis as a senior figure who had directed plans for attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers while trying to rebuild the brigade’s capabilities. Those assertions could not be independently verified. Israel said other Hamas members were targeted but provided no further details, and no additional casualty figures were immediately available.

The strike highlights the limits of the ceasefire that began in October 2025. That agreement ended large-scale hostilities and secured the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, but it did not produce a complete Israeli withdrawal or the disarmament of Hamas.

Israeli airstrikes, shelling and ground operations have continued, while armed Palestinian groups have retained fighters and weapons. UN reporting says the continuing attacks have caused civilian deaths and impeded Gaza’s recovery, with large areas still inaccessible or subject to severe restrictions.

Abu Younis’s death could further weaken Hamas’s command structure in southern Gaza. It may also complicate efforts to advance the ceasefire’s unfinished provisions, which include disarmament, troop withdrawal and longer-term arrangements for security and governance.

Sources: Israel Defense Forces operational updates; UN report on Gaza;