Chief of Hamas aerial system killed in Gaza in Israeli airstrike

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday killed a top Hamas commander, Merad Abu Merad, in an airstrike in the Gaza strip. Merad was the head of the Hamas Aerial System, the IDF confirmed on its official Telegram channel. The IDF in its continuation of strikes also attacked Hamas terror targets and dozens of “Nukhba” terrorist operatives based in the Gaza strip, the IDF stated.

“The IDF is continuing to strike Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip; dozens of ‘Nukhba’ terrorist operatives, as well as the head of the Hamas Aerial System were killed,” the IDF stated. 

“Last night (Friday), IDF fighter jets conducted wide-scale strikes throughout the Gaza Strip. These included dozens of Hamas terror targets as well as ‘Nukhba’ terrorist operatives that were in a staging ground in the Gaza Strip. ‘Nukhba’ terrorist operatives were one of the leading forces that led the infiltration into Israel last Saturday,” it added. 

Additionally, IDF fighter jets attacked the Hamas terrorist group's operational headquarters over the course of Friday, from where the terrorist group's aerial operations were directed.

“During the strike, IDF fighter jets killed Merad Abu Merad who was the head of the Hamas Aerial System in Gaza City, and was largely responsible for directing terrorists during the massacre on Saturday,” the IDF said in its post. 

After Israel's military ordered about a million Gazans to escape towards the southern portion of the enclave yesterday, people started to flee in large numbers.

The order was given after Israel threatened to launch a ground invasion, stating that it will "operate significantly in Gaza City" during the next few days.

In retribution for Hamas' horrific terror assaults on October 7, Israel has imposed a "complete siege" on over-crowded Gaza, cutting off supplies of electricity, food, water, and fuel.

According to the Health Ministry, nearly continual bombardment in Gaza has killed at least 1,900 Palestinians, including journalists, medical professionals, and other civilians. 

More than 400,000 Palestinians had been internally displaced before the evacuation alert, the UN reported.