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IDF: Hamas Tunnel Commander and Oct. 7 Hostage-Holder Killed in Gaza Strikes
(Times of Israel) Emanuel Fabian - The IDF said Saturday it had killed Sharif al-Hasanat, a company commander in Hamas's Deir al-Balah battalion. "Throughout the war, the terrorist led efforts to restore the underground infrastructure of the Hamas terror organization," the IDF said. He posed an "immediate threat to our forces and was eliminated." On Friday, the IDF said Hamas operative Sobhi Sami Mahmoud Shahtot had been killed in a Wednesday strike in Nuseirat. Shahtot was a Hamas platoon commander who invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. He "took part in holding numerous hostages in Hamas captivity during the war" and was seen participating in Hamas hostage-release ceremonies. He had recently been advancing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and was killed "to remove the threat." On Thursday, the IDF and Israel Security Agency said Hamas has been using Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis to interrogate and torture Palestinians as it faced an "erosion of support" in Gaza. Hamas had stepped up the activities of its internal security apparatus and was seeking to maintain control through "intimidation, interrogations and torture of residents." Hamas operatives maintained a regular presence in the hospital compound and its use of the medical facility created fear among patients and staff.