“This is a cynical exploitation of the humanitarian sphere for the purpose of supporting terrorist activity,” the IDF said.
By United with Israel
The IDF eliminated a Hamas Nukhba terrorist who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre and later operated under the cover of a humanitarian aid organization, the military announced Sunday.
Saqr Nabil Musa Qaisi was killed in an IDF strike in the Khan Yunis area of southern Gaza earlier in the day.
According to the IDF, Qaisi infiltrated Israel during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 massacre and served as a Nukhba terrorist in the terror group’s military wing.
Alongside his activities for Hamas, Qaisi served as the director of the Turkish Deniz Feneri organization, which presents itself as a humanitarian aid group.
The IDF said the organization maintains ties with senior Hamas officials as well as figures in the Turkish leadership.
In his position at Deniz Feneri, Qaisi allegedly arranged regular employment for numerous terrorists and provided financial support to Hamas terrorists.
The IDF accused the organization and its senior officials of presenting their work as humanitarian assistance while raising funds that ultimately support Hamas.
“This is a cynical exploitation of the humanitarian sphere for the purpose of supporting terrorist activity, while advancing the activities of the Hamas terrorist organization under humanitarian cover,” the military said.
The IDF said Qaisi had recently been working to advance attacks against Israeli troops and civilians and to rebuild Hamas’s capabilities, in what it described as systematic violations of the ceasefire agreement.
He was targeted to remove the threat he posed, the military said.
The IDF said precautions were taken before the strike to reduce the risk to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.
The military has recently highlighted other cases in which it says Hamas and other Gaza terror groups placed terrorists in ostensibly civilian professions and organizations.
Last week, the IDF released information identifying 170 Gazans who were presented as journalists or media workers but who it says were members of the military wings of Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and other terror groups.
Separately, the IDF announced Sunday that it had eliminated two additional Hamas terrorists in the Khan Yunis area.
One of them, Muadh Jamal Abu Nseira, was described by the military as a commander in Hamas’s military wing. He was killed in a strike earlier Sunday.
In another strike Saturday, the IDF killed Mahmoud Ibrahim Dib Alyan, an operative in Hamas’s observation array.
According to the military, Alyan had recently been identified advancing attack plans against IDF troops operating near the Yellow Line and working to restore Hamas’s capabilities.
The IDF said Alyan was also acting in systematic violation of the ceasefire agreement and was eliminated in an airstrike after being identified as a threat.
The military said precautions were taken ahead of both strikes to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.
IDF Southern Command forces remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operating against immediate threats, the military said.
Do You Love Israel? Make a Donation - Show Your Support!
Donate to vital charities that help protect Israeli citizens and inspire millions around the world to support Israel too!
Now more than ever, Israel needs your help to fight and win the war -- including on the battlefield of public opinion.
Antisemitism, anti-Israel bias and boycotts are out of control. Israel's enemies are inciting terror and violence against innocent Israelis and Jews around the world. Help us fight back!