The Israeli Army reported this Thursday that three months ago it killed Rawhi Mushtaha, a member of the Hamas political bureau and whom it identified as the “head of the Government” of the Islamist group in the Gaza Strip, in an air strike in which they also eliminated two other senior officials.
The attack took place against an underground complex in the north of the Strip, which the Army said “served as a command and control center” for the Islamists and allowed high-ranking members to remain hidden for long periods of time.
Mushtaha was imprisoned in Israel alongside Yahya Sinwar, Hamas leader in the enclave and mastermind of the October 7 attacks, and helped him establish the internal security service in the territory.
“Mushtaha was considered the most senior figure in the Hamas political bureau in the Gaza Strip, and during the war he maintained civilian control of the Hamas regime, while engaging in terrorist activities against Israel,” said the Army, which described him as Sinwar’s “right hand man.”
According to Israeli forces, Mushtaha had a direct impact on decisions about the group’s troop movements, and was involved in military decisions.
Sameh al Siraj, head of security in the political bureau of the Islamist group, and Sami Oudeh, commander of the General Security Mechanism (the internal police), were also killed in the attack on the command center.
Israel also accused the group of not announcing the deaths of the three senior officials so as not to damage the morale of its fighters.
For the moment, Hamas has not commented on Israel’s announcement.