IDF Increases Pressure in Order to Release Hostages: Hamas Spokesperson Eliminated

The IDF eliminated Hamas spokesman Abd al-Latif al-Qanou overnight (Wednesday to Thursday) in an airstrike in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, according to an official Hamas statement. Al-Qanou was killed in the strike on the tent where he was staying. Several others were wounded, and six were killed in the IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Qanou was the face and voice of Hamas rule and considered one of the terror organization’s key spokesmen in the Gaza Strip. During the initial months of the war, he refrained from giving interviews to various media outlets, but after the ceasefire, he resumed interviews with different channels in the Arab world, spreading messages on behalf of Hamas

استشهاد الناطق باسم حركة حماس عبد اللطيف القانوع بقصف العدو الإسرائيلي خيمته في جباليا البلد شمال غزة
حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل pic.twitter.com/Yb3DG79S9c

— نصر الدين عامر | Nasruddin Amer (@Nasr_Amer1) March 26, 2025

A Series of Significant Eliminations

This elimination is part of a series of significant assassinations carried out by the IDF since the fighting resumed in Gaza following Hamas intransigence on a hostage deal. Earlier this week, the IDF and the IAS (Shin Bet) eliminated terrorist Hossam Basel Abd al-Karim Shabat, a sniper operative in Hamas’s Beit Hanoun Battalion, who also worked as a journalist for the Qatari media network Al Jazeera.

Hamas terrorist who was also employed as a journalist by Al Jazeera | Photo: IDF Spokesperson

The IDF and Shin Bet have attacked hundreds of terrorist targets and operatives across the Gaza Strip in recent days, using fighter jets and aircraft, with the aim of damaging the military capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization and removing threats to Israeli civilians and IDF forces.

Two Other Hamas Commanders Recently Eliminated

The deputy commander of the Gaza Brigade, terrorist Ahmad Salman Awj Shimali, and the commander of the Sheja’iya Battalion, terrorist Jamil Omar Jamil Wadiya, were eliminated.

Shimali was responsible for operations and had been in charge of planning the brigade’s offensive strategy and force-building in preparation of Hamas’ brutal massacres on October 7. During the war, he was responsible for the deployment of forces and the operational readiness of the Gaza Brigade against IDF troops in the area.

Wadiya had led the battalion for most of the war after replacing terrorist Wissam Farhat, who was eliminated in December 2023. Wadiya was responsible for directing the battalion’s forces against the IDF and worked on rebuilding and reorganizing the unit. Furthermore, Wadiya was involved in the anti-tank missile attack on a school bus in April 2011, which resulted in the death of sixteen year old Daniel Viflic.

Eliminated Hamas terrorists | Photo and graphic : IDF Spokesperson

With the elimination of Abd al-Latif al-Qanou last night, the number of senior members of Hamas’ political bureau eliminated since the beginning of “Operation Strength and Sword” has risen to nine.