WhatsappThe IDF continues to demonstrate what the Gaza ceasefire actually means: quiet will be met with quiet, but terrorists actively preparing attacks against Israeli forces will remain targets.
The military announced the elimination of two additional terror operatives in recent strikes inside Gaza.
On Sunday, an Israeli strike in Gaza City’s Shati camp killed Sabhi Khader al-Hashem al-Batrihi, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad operative. According to the IDF, al-Batrihi was involved in planting explosive devices intended to target Israeli troops.
In a separate strike last week, the IDF eliminated Ahmad Fuad Khalil Khalas, a member of Hamas’s elite Nukhba Force. Khalas was also accused of planting explosive devices against Israeli soldiers.
The significance is not simply that these men belonged to terrorist organizations. The IDF says both were actively advancing attacks and therefore continued to pose an immediate threat, despite the ceasefire.
That fits a broader pattern.
Over the past week alone, Israeli strikes have eliminated at least 14 terror operatives in Gaza, according to the military. They reportedly included five company commanders and five platoon commanders from Hamas’s Nukhba Force—the same elite formation that played a central role in the October 7 massacre.
Israel is therefore steadily degrading the command structure Hamas would need to rebuild its offensive capabilities.
At the same time, another incident highlighted the extraordinary operational constraints under which Israel continues to fight.
During an attempt to strike a Hamas operative, the IDF identified civilians near the target after a munition had already been released. Because the weapon could no longer be aborted, Israeli forces diverted it in mid-flight away from the civilians.
That detail matters.
Israel is simultaneously maintaining military pressure on terrorists violating the ceasefire while taking active measures to protect Gaza civilians.
The message to Hamas and Islamic Jihad should be unmistakable: a ceasefire is not immunity. Those preparing the next attack remain legitimate targets.
