Israel killed at least a dozen senior Hamas military and political officials since the Gaza war erupted after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Its most daring operations killed Ismail Haniyeh, head of the politburo, in Tehran and Mohammed Deif, the chief military commander, in Gaza, both in July 2024. In January 2024, Mossad chief David Barnea had vowed that Israel was “committed to settling accounts” with everyone involved—“directly or indirectly,” including “planners and envoys”—in the Hamas invasion of Gaza. “It’ll take time, as it took time after the Munich massacre, but we will put our hands on them wherever they are,” he said, referring to the murder of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics.
The military commanders were part of the Izz ad-Din al Qassam Brigades, the military unit named for a Muslim preacher in the 1930s who opposed the British occupation. Established in 1991, the Qassam Brigades have targeted Israel with rockets, in suicide bombings, and cross-border raids. The following is a rundown of the Israeli assassinations.
Ayman Nofal – A key member of the General Military Council Nofal also coordinated attacks on Israel with other Palestinian factions. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Oct. 17, 2023.
Jamila al Shanti – The first woman elected to the Hamas political bureau, Shanti was the widow of Hamas co-founder Aziz al Rantisi and founder of the Hamas women’s wing. She was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on Oct. 19, 2023.
Ibrahim Biari – The commander of the Jabaliya Battalion was responsible for operations in northern Gaza. Israel claimed Biari dispatched the fighters that raided southern Israel on Oct. 7. For two decades, he had also organized rocket attacks on Israel military and civilian targets. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Oct. 31, 2023 that also killed at least 126 civilians.
Khalil Kharaz – The deputy chief of the Qassam Brigades in Lebanon – part of the Hamas military operation abroad – was killed by an Israeli drone strike on a car carrying other Hamas fighters near Tyre on Nov. 21, 2023.
Saleh al Arouri – A co-founder of the Hamas military wing in the West Bank and a deputy political leader, he later became a key intermediary between Hamas and Hezbollah. He and two other senior Hamas officials were killed in an Israeli drone strike on a Hamas office in southern Beirut on Dec. 25, 2023.
Marwan Issa – A deputy commander of the Hamas military wing in Gaza, he reportedly was one of the key planners of the Oct. 7 attacks. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Nuseirat refugee camp on March 10, 2024.
Mohammed Deif – The top Hamas military commander, he was reportedly the mastermind of the Oct. 7 attack that killed more than 1,100 Israelis and foreigners. He reportedly died in an airstrike on Khan Younis in southern Gaza on July 13, 2024 that also killed at least 90 other Palestinians and injured over 300. Hamas claimed that he survived.
Ismail Haniyeh – The head of the Hamas political office was the chief negotiator – through Qatar and Egypt – with Israel and the United States on terms for a ceasefire and hostage release. He was based in Doha but died while visiting Iran for the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 31, 2024. He was reportedly killed by a bomb smuggled into the Iranian compound months before his visit and detonated by remote control.
Jaber Aziz – The commander of the Al Furqan Battalion reportedly helped plan and train for the Oct. 7 attack. Aziz was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza City on Aug. 4, 2024.
Abdel Fattah al Zeriei – The economy minister reportedly oversaw the distribution of funds, supplies, and fuel for Hamas; he also allegedly directed the seizure of international humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Zeriei and his mother were killed by an Israeli airstrike on Deir al Balah in central Gaza on Aug. 5, 2024.
Samer Mahmoud al Haj – The commander of Hamas forces at the Ain al Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon reportedly recruited and trained operatives. He was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Sidon, Lebanon on Aug. 9, 2024.
Youssef al Kahlout – Israel alleged that he was a member of Hamas’ central leadership while Arab media described him as a professor of Arabic language at the Islamic University of Gaza. He was killed with around 100 other Palestinians in an Israeli airstrike on a school used to shelter civilians in Gaza City on Aug. 10, 2024. Israel alleged that at least 31 of the dead were members of either Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Amgad Yemini – The platoon commander was killed in the Israeli airstrike on a school in Gaza City on Aug. 10, 2024 that left about 100 dead.
Ahmed Abu Ara – The senior operative was involved in the planning and execution of a deadly Jordan Valley shooting on August 11 as well as two West Bank bombings on June 27 and July 23. He was also allegedly involved in manufacturing explosives for Hamas. Abu Ara and commander Raafat Dawasi were killed in an Israeli drone strike on their car in Jenin on Aug. 17, 2024.
Raafat Dawasi – The commander of the Jenin Battalion was reportedly involved in a deadly Jordan Valley shooting on Aug. 11 as well as two West Bank bombings on June 27 and July 23. Dawasi and senior operative Ahmed Abu Ara were killed by an Israeli drone strike on their car in Jenin on Aug. 17, 2024.
Wassem Hazem – The head of Hamas in Jenin reportedly carried out and directed various shooting and bombing attacks. He was killed in an IDF operation in Jenin along with two others on Aug. 30, 2024.
Ahmed Fawzi Nasser Muhammad Wadiyya – The head of the Daraj-Tuffah Battalion in the Nukhba Force reportedly led the assault on Netiv Ha’asara during the October 7 attacks. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a compound near Al Ahli hospital in Gaza in August 2024.
Samer Abu Daqqa – The head of Hamas' aerial unit in Gaza was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Hamas command and control center within a Khan Yunis humanitarian zone on Sept. 9, 2024.
Osama Tabesh – The chief of the Hamas surveillance and targeting division within military intelligence was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a command and control center within a Kham Yunis humanitarian zone on Sept. 9, 2024.
Yahya Sinwar – The leader of Hamas planned and carried out Operation Al Aqsa Flood, the unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 in which around 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 were taken hostage. He continued to lead Hamas from hiding after the Oct. 7 attack, and he became the senior political leader of Hamas after Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Iran on July 31, 2024. Yahya Sinwar was reportedly killed by Israeli soldiers by chance during a heavy gun battle on Oct. 16, 2024.
Fateh al Sharif – The Hamas official reportedly coordinated Hamas operations in Lebanon through member recruitment and weapons acquisition. He worked for UNRWA as the Head of the Teachers’ Union but was suspended in March 2024 pending an investigation regarding his political activities. Fateh al Sharif was killed along with his wife and children in an airstrike on the al Bass refugee camp in Tyre, Lebanon on Sep. 30, 2024.
Saeed Atallah Ali – The commander of Hamas’ armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, was killed along with his wife and two children in an Israeli strike on a refugee camp in north Lebanon on Oct. 5, 2024.
Mohammed Hussein al Lawis – A member of the Qassam Brigades and the group’s executive authority in Lebanon, he supplied weapons for Hamas operations. He was was killed in an Israeli attack in eastern Lebanon on Oct. 5, 2024.
Rawhi Mushtaha – The head of the Hamas government in Gaza was a close associate of Yahya Sinwar. He was responsible for civil affairs in Gaza and reportedly helped plan the October 7 attack. The IDF announced on Oct. 3, 2024, that Rawhi Mushtaha was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza three months prior.
Sameh al Siraj – The close affiliate of Yahya Sinwar held the security portfolio for the Hamas Political Bureau and served on the Labor Committee. The IDF announced on October 3, 2024, that Sameh al Siraj was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza three months prior.
Sami Oudeh – The commander of the Hamas General Security Mechanism reportedly worked closely with senior officials in the Hamas Political Bureau. The IDF announced on Oct. 3, 2024, that Sami Oudeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza three months prior.
Husam al Mallah – A commander of the Tulkarem Brigade, al Mallah was killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank on Oct. 30, 2024.
Izz al Din Kassab – The head of national relations in Hamas’ Political Bureau was responsible for domestic relations and Hamas’ strategic and military coordination with other factions in Gaza. He was killed on Nov. 1, 2024.
Jihad Mahmoud Yahya Kahlout – A Nukhba Force company commander, Kahlout reportedly participated in the October 7 attack and led the fighting against Israeli forces in northern Gaza. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya on Nov. 21, 2024.
Muhammad Riad Ali Oukal – A Hamas company commander , Oukal reportedly participated in the October 7 attack and led the fighting against Israeli forces in northern Gaza. He was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Beit Lahiya on Nov. 21, 2024.
Nidal al Najar – The head of Hamas’ aerial unit in Gaza City and head of its aerial defense unit in Gaza reportedly led the aerial advance on Israel during the October 7 attack. He was killed by a joint IDF and ISA operation. On Dec. 6, 2024, the IDF said that he had been killed in a recent airstrike.