In a bold operation on Sunday night, Israel’s military confirmed an airstrike in Tal-as-Sultan, located in southwest Rafah, leveraging precise intelligence to target and eliminate two high-ranking Hamas officials. Among those neutralized was Yassin Rabia, the formidable commander overseeing Hamas operations in the Judea & Samaria. The airstrike, a testament to the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) commitment to dismantling terrorist networks, has been both lauded for its precision and scrutinized due to reported civilian casualties.
The makeshift camp where these militants had embedded themselves, located south of Block 2371 which is the Al-Mawasi humanitarian area, was close to, but not in a designated humanitarian safe zone set up by Israeli officials on May 22. Muhammad Abu Hani, a civil defense official in the Gaza Strip, confirmed the militants' presence in this area, a tactic that not only endangered civilians but exploited the zone's protective status. Earlier that day, the same area saw rocket fire targeting Central Israel, with launch sites strategically placed near mosques. The IDF’s swift response neutralized these launch sites, underscoring its vigilance and operational readiness.
The rocket launcher that fired 8 projectiles from the area of Rafah toward central Israel was situated near 2 mosques.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 26, 2024
Shortly after the attack, the rocket launcher was struck by an IAF aircraft.
While we facilitate aid to the Rafah area, Hamas fires rockets toward Israeli… https://t.co/X0ti5trL36 pic.twitter.com/2Jt8ve8BT1
The IDF's airstrike on the Hamas compound in Rafah, a stronghold of terrorist activity, was conducted with meticulous precision. "An IDF aircraft struck a Hamas compound in Rafah where significant Hamas terrorists were operating.
The strike was carried out against legitimate targets under international law, using precise munitions and based on accurate intelligence indicating Hamas' use of the area," the military stated. The elimination of Yassin Rabia, a senior Hamas commander, marked a significant blow to Hamas’ operational capabilities in Judea and Samaria. Rabia, notorious for his role in numerous deadly attacks against Israeli soldiers in 2001 and 2002, orchestrated and financed Hamas' terrorist activities, making him a high-value target.
🚨Breaking, Important update on Last night's strike in Rafah from the IDF:
— Yaari Cohen (@YaariCohen) May 27, 2024
Last night, the @IAFsite carried out an intelligence-based precise strike that targeted senior Hamas terrorists in Tal as Sultan.
Contrary to Hamas' lies and misinformation, the strike did not take place… pic.twitter.com/9kGcDOscaP
Alongside Rabia, Khaled Nagar, another senior Hamas official, was also killed. Nagar, a mastermind behind multiple terror attacks, including the brutal murder of Esther Galia in November 2002 and the killing of IDF soldiers in 2003, had been a critical figure in Hamas' operations in Judea and Samaria. His death further cripples Hamas’ ability to conduct terror activities.
🔴Eliminated in the precise airstrike in northwest Rafah: Hamas Chief of Staff in Judea and Samaria and an additional senior Hamas official.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 26, 2024
Terrorist #1: Yassin Rabia
Rabia managed the entirety of Hamas' terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria, transferred funds to terrorist… https://t.co/iaGrw8WJ4f
Despite the precision of the operation, the IDF acknowledged reports of civilian casualties resulting from the strike and the subsequent fire. The incident is currently under thorough review. Al Jazeera, known for its contentious reporting on Israel, claimed that at least 27 Palestinians were killed, later updating the number to 35, though distinctions between militants and civilians were not clear.
The IDF faces the perpetual challenge of countering a terror group that consistently uses civilians as human shields. Social media has been rife with videos showing children in proximity to rocket launch sites, sometimes even aiding in these operations. This tactic, designed to elicit international condemnation of Israeli actions, complicates the IDF's operational environment. The use of civilian areas for military purposes by Hamas is a documented strategy, as seen in videos of rockets launched from within UN-designated safe zones, mosques, and schools since 2014.
During the attack in Rafah this evening, the terrorists Yassin Rabia, the head of Hamas's Judea & Samaria operations, was eliminated. 💥
— Adam Albilya - אדם אלביליה (@AdamAlbilya) May 26, 2024
In addition, the terrorist Khaled Nagar was eliminated in the attack. Khaled was a senior operative in the same headquarters and a mass… https://t.co/rZ3NilezSG pic.twitter.com/yTQCinzgh5
Under international law, Israel's responses to these attacks are justified, yet Palestinian officials often blur the lines between militants and civilians, portraying retaliatory strikes as indiscriminate attacks on civilians. This propaganda is furthered by the classification of adult males up to the age of 26 as "youth" to falsely amplify claims of Israel targeting children.
The IDF continues to investigate the strikes to ascertain the true extent of civilian casualties, though the elimination of high-profile targets like Nagar and Rabia suggests that the reported numbers may not reflect the actual militant-to-civilian ratio. The complexities of modern urban warfare against a foe that exploits humanitarian zones highlight the ongoing challenges Israel faces in defending its citizens while adhering to the laws of war.
**This article was updated to include the name of the location the strike occurred, Tal-As-Sultan, and clarify that the strike did not occur within the designated humanitarian zone, known as Al Mawasi.
