Israel eliminates Oct. 7 Hamas insurgent in new operation

The Israel Defense Forces struck terrorist infrastructure at over 115 sites across Gaza Wednesday, eliminating Mohammad Shahin of Hamas’ east Jabaliya Battalion, an alleged participant in the Oct. 7 massacre. The IDF said it also killed a Hamas missile commander on Tuesday after the Israeli Air Force struck over 100 targets throughout the strip, including terror storage facilities and military structures.

The strikes came as part of an extensive ground operation dubbed “Gideon Chariots” throughout North and South Gaza, the IDF said Sunday. The operation’s initial push over the weekend struck over 670 targets, killing dozens of terrorists, according to the statement. Gideon Chariots’ goals are to free any remaining kidnapping victims and finally defeat Hamas throughout Gaza, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday.

Are any ceasefires being negotiated? Israel approved a framework for a hostage deal with the help of White House envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a Tuesday statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mediators conveyed the proposal to Hamas and Israel’s negotiating team will remain in the Qatari capital of Doha for now, he added. Israeli leaders continue to insist that the war will end when Hamas surrenders and releases the hostages.

How are Palestinian civilians fairing? The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry reported that Israel’s most recent offensive maneuvers killed over 80 people, including several women and a baby. Israel also started allowing dozens of aid trucks to enter Gaza, Israel’s Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal said on Monday. Israel has been monitoring supply levels of basic necessities to avoid shortages, he noted. Trucks with baby food, medical supplies, flour and other aid will be entering Gaza in the coming days, Tal added. No aid has arrived in Gaza yet because of Israel’s complex requirements on how the aid is unloaded and transported, United Nations spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Tuesday.

Dig deeper: Read Elizabeth Russell’s report on one of the latest hostages released by Hamas last week.