The Israeli military and security services have reported carrying out an airstrike in central Gaza on Friday, resulting in the death of Mansour Sami Mahmoud Shahatut, the commander of the Hamas naval police.
The joint statement revealed that the strike also killed two other Hamas naval police leaders, noting that the group's naval forces operate under the umbrella of its military wing.
According to the statement, Shahatut and the other commanders were traveling in an armed vehicle and posed a threat to Israeli forces operating within the Gaza Strip.
The army emphasized it took measures to minimize civilian harm before the strike, including utilizing precision munitions and aerial surveillance.
The statement highlighted that the Israeli Southern Command forces are deployed in the area in accordance with agreements, asserting that they will continue operations to eliminate what they describe as direct threats.