Hamas commander targeted at Nasser Hospital loses leg, suffers severe head injury

Israeli sources say Hamas's Khan Yunis commander survived the Nasser Hospital strike but suffered severe head injuries and had his leg amputated.

Muhammad Abu Ismail, commander of Hamas's Khan Yunis Brigade, suffered a severe head injury and had his leg amputated after surviving an Israeli targeted strike at Nasser Hospital in the southern Gaza Strip on Thursday, according to Israeli sources.

The strike against Abu Ismail was part of a series of operations targeting senior Hamas commanders in southern Gaza, with another targeted strike carried out overnight between Saturday and Sunday.

Security officials said the operation was the fifth attempt to eliminate a Hamas brigade commander in the past two months, as part of a systematic effort to dismantle the senior chain of command of Hamas's military wing.

The list includes the elimination of Ahmed Ghandour, commander of Hamas's northern Gaza Brigade, and two strikes targeting commanders of the Khan Yunis Brigade. The first resulted in the elimination of Rafa'a Salameh, while the second critically wounded his successor.

Two additional targeted strikes were carried out against commanders of Hamas's Rafah Brigade: Nael Abu Obeid, who was killed on September 15, and Samir Abu Younis, who was targeted overnight between Saturday and Sunday.

Israeli strikes pressure Hamas's military command

According to security officials, the intensive operations conducted by the IDF Southern Command, under the leadership of Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, together with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), are placing unprecedented pressure on Hamas's military wing, which is struggling to restore its command-and-control capabilities on the ground.

The strikes are part of ongoing IDF and Shin Bet operations targeting Hamas operatives in the Gaza Strip.

IDF prepares for possible Hamas attacks

Despite these operational difficulties, the IDF assessed that Hamas's military wing is preparing for two main courses of action.

The first involves operating below the threshold likely to trigger a major escalation, including sniper fire, planting explosive devices, or carrying out isolated terrorist attacks that would not provoke a broader confrontation.

The second involves an attempt to carry out a complex terrorist attack resembling the events of October 7, or a more limited operation, such as an attempt to abduct an IDF soldier.

Such an attack would be intended to provide Hamas with a strategic bargaining chip, although it would also risk plunging the region into a broader escalation.

The IDF has also conducted targeted strikes against Hamas commanders accused of coordinating attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.