Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Sep 22: The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that its air force has eliminated Yousef, the deputy commander of Hamas's naval police, in a precision airstrike in Gaza.

According to an official IDF statement, Yousef was directly involved in the October 7 Hamas attack and had been orchestrating ambushes against Israeli troops during the ongoing fighting in the Gaza Strip. He was also accused of protecting key Hamas military assets and gathering intelligence on Israeli forces through Hamas’s maritime units.

"His elimination is a significant blow to Hamas’s maritime capabilities," the IDF said. "These units are essential to Hamas’s intelligence gathering and control of the coastal zones."

Part of 'Operation Gideon Chariots II'

Yousef's killing comes under Operation 'Gideon Chariots II', in which the Israeli Navy and Air Force have ramped up joint efforts to dismantle Hamas’s naval infrastructure. The Navy’s 916th Squadron, which supports ground operations with naval firepower, played a critical role in identifying the target and coordinating with air units.

The IDF noted the growing effectiveness of integrated sea-air-land strikes, describing the operation as a model of real-time intelligence sharing and joint-force execution.

National Message from the Military Chief

On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir addressed IDF personnel deployed across all theatres, expressing the nation’s gratitude:

“Thanks to you, we can sit at our holiday tables with a sense of security. Your dedication and sacrifice do not go unnoticed,” said Zamir.

This marks the latest high-profile strike in Israel’s ongoing campaign targeting Hamas leadership and critical infrastructure in Gaza, amid heightened tensions and ongoing military operations since the October 7 attacks.