The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), in coordination with the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), carried out a series of targeted operations in the Rafah area of the Gaza Strip, eliminating multiple militants from the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorist organizations following what Israeli officials described as a serious security violation.

According to official IDF statements, the operation was launched after militants opened fire on an IDF vehicle in the Rafah area, prompting an immediate intelligence-led response. The joint operation resulted in the elimination of six terrorists, including senior Hamas operative Muhammad Khuli, who was identified as playing a command role in militant activity in the sector.

In a separate, follow-up strike, Israeli forces targeted and killed two additional Hamas militants who were actively engaged in rebuilding the organization’s terror infrastructure in the area. Israeli officials said the infrastructure efforts posed an imminent threat and were part of Hamas’s attempts to reconstitute operational capabilities despite ongoing ceasefire understandings.

Thermal and aerial footage released by the IDF shows militants entering a building prior to a precise airstrike, highlighting the use of real-time intelligence and surveillance integration to minimize collateral damage while neutralizing active threats. The military emphasized that the strikes were conducted with precision and based on verified intelligence.

Israeli defense officials have repeatedly warned that attempts by Hamas and PIJ to restore weapons production, command centers, and operational assets would be met with decisive action. The latest strikes underscore Israel’s stated policy of enforcing red lines and preventing terror organizations from exploiting ceasefire periods to regroup.

The operations come amid a fragile security environment in Gaza following late-2025 de-escalation efforts, with Israel maintaining heightened readiness and asserting its right to act against immediate threats to its forces and civilians.