Jerusalem Post/Middle EastIsmail Masri, Hamas’s Rafah Brigade military defense chief, was killed in a joint IDF and Shin Bet operation conducted in Gaza last Tuesday.Follow us on GooglePalestinian Hamas terrorists stand guard on the day of the handover of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly October 7 2023 attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, February 22, 2025.(photo credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFJUNE 29, 2026 20:22The IDF, in coordination with Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), killed Hamas terrorist Ismail Masri during an operation in Gaza conducted last Tuesday, the military announced on Monday. Masri was head of military defense in Hamas’s Rafah Brigade.Throughout the Israel-Hamas War, Masri oversaw military security and counterintelligence within the Rafah Brigade, according to the IDF statement, and played a key role in rehabilitating and rebuilding Hamas' military capabilities to facilitate attacks against Israeli forces.IDF kills October 7 terroristAdditionally, on Monday, the IDF killed a Hamas terrorist who participated in the October 7, 2023, massacre, the military confirmed on Sunday.The terrorist was identified as Abd al-Rahman Maher Abd al-Karim Ziyada, a Nukhba Force commander in Hamas's Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades.During the massacre, Ziyada looted an IDF military vehicle, taking it into the Gaza Strip, the military said.In a separate strike last week, the IDF killed Kamal Mohammad Hamdan Najjar, the head of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades' tunnel unit in Khan Yunis.The IDF also carried out another strike last week that resulted in the deaths of the head of Hamas's Naval Police in the Central Camps and two other Hamas naval officers.The senior naval officer was identified as Mansour Sami Mahmoud Shahtout, and the two others were identified as Mahdi Jabr and Mohammad Noufal.James Genn contributed to this report.Follow us on Google