Israeli forces captured a commander from Hamas’s East Rafah Battalion in southern Gaza after a targeted operation overnight, the military confirmed. The operation followed airstrikes that struck eight militants emerging from a tunnel, killing at least three of them and wounding or dispersing the others.

The detainee, described by the Israeli military as a “key commander,” was attempting to flee and hide when he was apprehended. An Israeli military spokesperson noted that search operations are ongoing to locate and neutralize the remaining militants in the area.

Unverified footage circulating online suggests the commander may have initially been detained by the anti-Hamas Abu Shabab militia in Rafah before being handed over to Israeli forces. Two videos accompanying reports depict different stages of the operation: thermal drone footage shows militants exiting the tunnel prior to precision airstrikes, while a second video shows the shirtless captive being questioned by an Israeli soldier in a dusty outdoor area amid military vehicles, underscoring the operation’s intensity.

This capture comes amid continued military efforts in southern Gaza to target Hamas infrastructure, including underground tunnels used for movement, smuggling, and militant operations. The IDF emphasized that the operation demonstrates the military’s focus on disrupting Hamas command structures while minimizing civilian harm.