IDF kills Hamas operative involved in killing of Nahal Brigade commander

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the elimination of Ismail Ibrahim Darwish Kandil, a member of Hamas’s elite Nukhba force, during a strike in the Khan Younis area of the southern Gaza Strip.

Kandil was identified as one of the individuals who crossed into Israel during the October 7, 2023, attacks and participated in the killing of Col. Yonatan Steinberg, the commander of the IDF’s 933rd Nahal Brigade. Steinberg was killed near Kerem Shalom while responding to the assault.

The military stated that Kandil had remained an active threat, working to plan attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians and assisting in the rebuilding of Hamas’s military capabilities. The IDF described these actions as systematic violations of the ceasefire. To minimize civilian risk, the military reported using aerial surveillance and precision munitions during the operation.