The Israeli army confirmed on Monday the death of Hamas’s Al Furqan battalion commander, Jaber Aziz, in the bombing of the Hassan Salame school in Gaza City, carried out yesterday in parallel with the attack on the Nasser school, in two attacks in which at least 30 people died.
Aziz was “eliminated” along with other Islamist militants, according to the military statement, based on information from military intelligence and the Israeli internal service, Shin Bet.
He had been the battalion commander since 2020, of which he was previously deputy commander, and also held both positions in the Zeitún battalion.
“Aziz played a significant role in planning the October 7 massacre and led the preparations and training of the Al Furqan battalion,” the army said, recalling the Hamas attack on Israeli territory that left some 1,200 dead and 251 kidnapped and sparked the war nearly 10 months ago.
The commander also participated in the infiltration of militants into Israeli towns near the border with Gaza that same day.
During the war, in which the number of Palestinians killed has already reached 40,000, he promoted “terrorist attacks” against soldiers, according to the Army, which attributes to him an important role in the management of the Hamas Gaza Brigade, although it does not provide further details on the matter.
“Their elimination significantly degrades Hamas’ capabilities,” the military statement said.
Yesterday, the Israeli air force bombed the Hassan Salame school next to the Nasser school, claiming that both were “command centres” used by Palestinian militants like Aziz.
Gaza’s Civil Defence teams have counted at least 30 dead following the attacks, while on Tuesday they continued to search for another 16 people missing following the bombing.
The Civil Defence claimed that the centre was home to displaced people – 90% of Gazans are displaced, according to data from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA – while the armed forces claimed that the complex was used “as a hideout for Hamas terrorists, from where they planned to carry out attacks against Israeli soldiers and the State of Israel.”
In the nearly ten months of war that has ravaged the enclave, 39,623 Gazans have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 91,469 have been injured; in addition to the more than 10,000 missing who the authorities estimate are still under the rubble.
Jerusalem / EFE
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2024-08-06 13:50:57
