In the early morning hours from Khan Yunis reports said that at least 30 attacks from artillery and airplanes rocked the surrounding areas. Despite false reports that this was all cover for a hostage rescue mission - a different sort of special forces mission was undertaken.
Nine soldiers from the Israeli special forces dressed like Arab women and penetrated deep into Khan Yunis attempting to extract the leader of the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades terror organization (Popular Resistance Committees) Ahmed Sarhan. Once he resisted – the IDF simply eliminated him. Sarhan commanded thousands of operatives and was fiercely loyal to Hamas. His elimination further breaks down the command structure of Hamas and their supporting groups.
In a non-connected incident Gazan sources report that the IDF has killed Mehdi Kouareh, the commander of the South Khan Yunis Battalion in Hamas’ military wing.
While the IDF pushes forward with its wide military offensive, Israel is busy eliminating the command structure of Hamas, breaking it down and removing the umbrella leadership. True, this will disconnect the Jihadists on the ground holding the hostages from agreeing to a comprehensive deal, but the goals has always been to destroy Hamas and get the hostages out. Any comprehensive deal Hamas will agree to leaves them in power. The best way to get the hostages out and destroy Hamas is to isolate Hamas operatives from one another by continuing to take out the leadership.
This appears to be the strategy as the pressure from ground battle increases.
So why is Witkoff insisting on a deal? The American have been putting a lot of pressure on the Israelis to cave to some sort of deal. This has been the ongoing effect of Qatari influence on the Trump administration and it does not seem to have abetted. Trump wants a deal, but the reality is, without total victory over Hamas, Israel will be viewed as weak. The Qataris want a deal, because without Hamas they lose their ultimate leverage over Israel.
In the coming days, Prime Minister Netanyahu will do everything to maximize the IDF’s flexibility in order to create a fait accompli on the ground that at the very least will leave the Gaza Strip split into cantons and at the most move the non-combatant part of the Gazan population into what was once Rafah and from there humanitarian aid can be delivered without Hamas interference.