Jerusalem, Apr 21 (EFE).- The Israeli military announced Monday that it has killed a Palestinian militant in Gaza who allegedly took part in the Hamas-led armed attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The alleged militant, identified as Ahmad Mansour, was a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s rocket unit.
According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Mansour was among the fighters, who infiltrated Israeli territory and participated in the Oct. 7 “massacre.”
The IDF also accused Mansour of launching rocket attacks against Israel during the ongoing war in Gaza.
The IDF said it has carried out over 200 airstrikes across Gaza in the past 72 hours, targeting militant groups, rocket launchers, and sniper positions. Troops also reportedly uncovered weapons and ammunition depots during these operations.
Since Saturday, at least 80 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes across the enclave, the Hamas-run Gazan health ministry said in a statement.
Since the war began on Oct. 7, more than 51,200 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and nearly 117,000 others injured, the ministry added.
Israel says at least 59 hostages taken by Hamas during the Oct. 7 attack are still in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive.
On Monday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sparked controversy by saying the government’s top priority was not returning the hostages but defeating Hamas.
“We have to say the truth, returning the hostages is not the most important thing,” he said, according to Israeli media reports.
“If you want to destroy Hamas so that there can’t be another October 7, you need to understand that there can’t be a situation where Hamas remains in Gaza,” he added. EFE
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