The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the elimination of a prominent Hamas leader, Muhammad al-‘Ajlah, who was chiefly responsible for providing arms to terrorists for attacks targeting Israeli civilians and IDF troops.
Al-‘Ajlah, the commander of Hamas’ Shejaiya battalion, was killed in a “precise strike” on Sunday, as confirmed by the IDF on Tuesday.
The Shejaiya battalion, a military unit within Hamas’s armed wing, primarily operates in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood, which has long served as a stronghold for Hamas and a hotspot for intense clashes during Israeli military actions.
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According to the IDF, al-‘Ajlah is the fifth commander of the Shejaiya battalion to be eliminated since the onset of the war and the third since renewed military operations commenced in Gaza.
In an official statement, the IDF detailed that “Muhammad al-‘Ajlah served as the commander of a combat support company in the Shejaiya battalion throughout the war and was eliminated in a precise strike on Sunday night.”
“Prior to the strike, multiple measures were implemented to minimize the risk of civilian casualties, including issuing advanced warnings to civilians, deploying precise munitions, and conducting aerial surveillance,” the IDF added.
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The Shejaiya battalion is known for employing urban guerrilla warfare tactics, utilizing tunnels, IEDs, and launching rockets, as reported by the IDF.
In a notable October operation, Hamas terror chief Yahya Sinwar was killed during an Israeli military action in the Gaza Strip, with disturbing video capturing his final moments.
Furthermore, Hamas’ top military commander, Mohammad Deif, was killed in a strike in July 2024. Deif played a critical role in initiating, planning, and executing the October 7th terror attacks alongside Sinwar, per IDF statements.
The killing of al-‘Ajlah on Sunday coincides with the resumption of hostilities as of March 18, following a two-month ceasefire.
Recent discussions in Cairo on Monday aimed at restoring the ceasefire and securing the release of Israeli hostages concluded without any significant breakthroughs, according to sources from Palestine and Egypt.
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Hamas has urged that Israel must commit to ending the conflict and withdraw its forces from the Gaza Strip as per the terms of a three-phase ceasefire agreement initiated in late January.
In contrast, Israel maintains that it will not cease military operations until Hamas is dismantled and the remaining hostages held in Gaza are returned. Reports indicate that there are currently 59 hostages still in captivity, with Israel believing that 35 may have perished. During the latest ceasefire, 33 hostages were released, while 251 were initially taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
