Two Hamas operatives, including a commander involved in the October 7 terror attack and the holding of Israeli hostages, have surrendered to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops in southern Gaza’s Rafah, the military announced.
The two operatives were apprehended during a series of operations carried out by the 188th Armored Brigade in the Shaboura refugee camp in Rafah several weeks ago, Caliber.Az reports citing Israli media.
Their capture marks a significant development as Israeli forces continue targeted counterterrorism operations in Gaza's southern city.
The military identified one of the men as Yousef Qadi, a Hamas platoon commander who participated in the October 7, 2023, cross-border assault on Israel and was later involved in holding several Israeli hostages in Gaza. According to the IDF and the Shin Bet internal security agency, all the hostages held by Qadi have since been released.
The second individual was identified as Muhammad Zaarab, a senior commander in Hamas’s sniper unit. The military reported that both operatives were armed with several knives at the time of their surrender.
In a joint statement, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed that the two detainees had undergone interrogation, during which they provided “intelligence information about the location of a significant terror infrastructure in the area.”
The IDF completed its encirclement of Rafah several weeks ago and has since maintained a continuous operational presence in the city, focusing on identifying and neutralizing remaining Hamas militants believed to be operating in the area. The military stated that operations in Rafah are ongoing and that forces are preparing to extend their activities into additional neighborhoods soon.
By Vafa Guliyeva
Source: caliber.az
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