Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza

Gaza, Sep 26: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Friday that it had killed senior Hamas commander Wael Matria in an airstrike targeting Gaza’s Shati area. According to the IDF, Matria was directly involved in the October 7 attacks and took part in the raid on the Nahal Oz military outpost.

Matria, a Nukhba platoon commander in Hamas’ Shati Battalion in Gaza City, is accused of orchestrating terrorist operations against Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. The IDF described his elimination as part of ongoing strikes against Hamas leadership and infrastructure.

The October 7 assault saw Hamas launch over 2,000 rockets into Israel, followed by militants crossing the border and attacking civilians in nearby towns. One of the deadliest attacks occurred at the Nova music festival in the Negev desert, where more than 370 people were killed and several were taken hostage.

In response to the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war and ordered extensive airstrikes on Hamas positions across Gaza.