The Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security agency announced on Monday 26 October 2026 that they had eliminated two senior commanders of Hamas's military wing in separate operations in Gaza. The targets were named as Mohamad Khalawa, commander of Hamas's military intelligence array, and Ahmad Zahir Fouad Abu-Uda, an engineering commander in the organisation's military wing.

According to the military statement reported by both outlets, the strikes took place on Saturday, in the Gaza City area and in the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF said both commanders were working to advance attack plans against IDF forces and Israeli civilians and were engaged in efforts to rebuild Hamas capabilities, which it described as a violation of the ceasefire agreement.

What the announcement does and does not establish

The announcement rests on the IDF and Shin Bet account, and the reports seen did not include an independent confirmation of the strikes or a response from Hamas to the specific claims about the two men. The ceasefire context remains contested: Israel says Hamas has been rearming and launching attacks in violation of the agreement, while Hamas has denied trying to carry out attacks or rebuild its arsenal and accuses Israel of undermining the deal.

Readers should therefore treat the roles and intentions attributed to the two commanders as the Israeli military's account, pending any further verified reporting, rather than as independently established fact.