The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Service eliminated the battalion commander of the northern brigade of the Hamas group "Beit Lahiya".
Based on intelligence, Israeli fighter jets struck Nasim Abu Ajin, who led the October 7 massacre at Kibbutz Erez and the Netiv HaAsara moshav.
Previously, Ajini commanded Hamas, participated in the development of drones and paragliders of the terrorist organization.
Over the past day, the Israel Defense Forces have struck nearly 300 Hamas targets, including anti-tank missile launch sites and military complexes in underground tunnels.
"Military personnel destroyed terrorists and directed air forces in real time to strike terrorist targets and infrastructure," the IDF added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will not stop hostilities and attacks in the Gaza Strip.
“This is a turning point for leaders and nations. The time has come for all of us to decide whether we are ready to fight for a future of hope and promise, or to succumb to tyranny and terror," Netanyahu said.
He assured that the country will continue to fight. And he says that it is necessary to distinguish between the killing of innocents and the unintended casualties that exist during every war.
"Hamas will use human shields and hide in the basements of hospitals, it still does not allow civilians to leave the areas that Israel has ordered to evacuate," Netanyahu added and stressed that Israel would not accept the call for a ceasefire.
"Israel will not agree to a cessation of hostilities. Calls for a ceasefire are calls for Israel to surrender to Hamas, to surrender to terrorism, to surrender to barbarism. This will not happen," he says.
Invasion of Israel
On October 7, Hamas militants launched a massive rocket attack on the southern and central regions of Israel, invaded the countryʼs territory and took hostages.
Israel responded by launching a counter-terrorist operation and entering a state of war. On October 9, the Israeli army announced that it had regained control of all towns on the border with Gaza, and the countryʼs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the IDF had eliminated hundreds of terrorists, but would not stop there and turn into ruins "any place where it operates Hamas".