This was a key Israeli response to the over 700 rockets that Hamas and other Gaza terror groups launched on Israel killing five innocent Israelis, injuring tons of others and sending millions of Israelis running to bomb shelters. Before yesterday’s ceasefire brokered between Hamas and Israel, the Israeli airforce used a precision strike on Sunday to kill Hamed al-Khoudary, 34, who was responsible for transferring funds from Iran to terror groups in Gaza. Khoudary owned a money exchange business that was declared a terrorist organization by Israel in June 2018. This precision strike is extremely significant since Israel has not used precision strikes to kill terror leaders in Gaza since the 2014 Gaza war.
IDF Statement
“In recent years, Khoudary and his company established themselves as the main player in Gaza’s foreign exchange business,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit in a statement. “Khoudary transferred large sums of money to Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip through his company, using the help of foreign companies that were aware of the fact, Khoudary was running a business considered a terror organization.”
“Khoudary’s financial dealings, which served as Iran’s headquarters in the Gaza Strip, contributed significantly to the promotion of terrorist activities in the area,” the statement said.
Targeted Killings are Back on the Table
Khoudary wasn’t the most significant Hamas operative. However, he was an extremely important figure connecting the financial ties between Iran and Gaza terror organizations. More importantly, Israel was making an extremely critical statement by targeting Khoudary. The rules have now changed. From now on, precision strikes against terror leaders is back on the table as a legitimite defensive tactic for Isreal to enforce in the future in response to Hamas rocket fire.
Honestly, I do not understand why Israel ever took that option off the table since it is such an effective one to use that sends all the senior terrorists into hiding. It just shows the crazy situation Israel is in geo-politically that it needs to abide by while fighting a terror organization.
Crazy Ceasefire Situation
Watch this video to better understand the crazy ceasefire situation with Hamas in Gaza.
We just targeted Hamed Ahmed Khudari, a Gazan terrorist responsible for transferring Iranian funds to Hamas & PIJ in Gaza, helping fund their rocket fire at Israelis.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 5, 2019
Transferring Iranian money to Hamas & the PIJ doesn’t make you a businessman. It makes you a terrorist. pic.twitter.com/WvGEB16r4h
The last 48 hours in Gaza:
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 6, 2019
We targeted 350 Islamic Jihad & Hamas targets including:
• rocket launch sites
• terror squads & operatives
• command and training centers
• weapon facilities
• observation posts
• military compounds
Terror targets civilians, we target terror. pic.twitter.com/9wSS22PEjt