Top Hamas Weapons Official Killed by Israeli Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Sunday that they had killed Bashar Thabet, a senior commander within Hamas’ weapons manufacturing program. According to reports, Thabet oversaw the creation of weaponry within Hamas while employed in the creation and Projects Department. The IDF claims that this department was instrumental in Hamas’ efforts to rebuild and expand its arsenal of weapons.
The IDF conducted the operation in Gaza as part of a continuing military campaign. It specifically targeted Thabet inside a Hamas weapons production plant. Enhancing the production of rockets and other weapons used in strikes against Israel was the main goal of Thabet’s efforts.
⭕️Operational Update: IDF Activity in Gaza
❌ Eliminated: Bashar Thabet, a commander in Hamas’ Development and Projects Department within its weapons production HQ. He was responsible for research & development within Hamas’ weapons manufacturing apparatus, which operates to…
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 20, 2025
They added that his elimination marks a major blow to Hamas’ efforts to continue manufacturing weapons and carrying out attacks.
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Israeli Air Force Strikes 75 Hamas Targets Across Gaza
Alongside the targeted strike on Thabet, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) carried out a large-scale aerial operation across Gaza. According to the IAF, it hit over 75 targets linked to terrorism. These included military compounds used by Hamas and other militant groups, tunnel shafts, and terrorist cells preparing to launch attacks on IDF ground troops.
According to the IDF, some of the targets were part of underground tunnel networks that Hamas uses to hide fighters, store weapons, and move between areas undetected. These tunnels have been a major part of Hamas’ military strategy in Gaza for many years.
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The IDF reported that its forces killed several terrorist operatives during the strikes. Ground troops coordinated with the air force to identify and eliminate threats. The IDF stressed that its forces struck many of the targets just before they could launch attacks on Israeli soldiers.
An official post by the IDF read:
“IDF troops found and destroyed subterranean shafts, terrorists, and terrorist infrastructure. The IAF hit roughly 75 terror targets, including terrorists’ military installations and other terrorist infrastructure, and targeted terrorist cells that were poised to strike IDF troops.
These military actions are part of a wider campaign Israel says is aimed at weakening Hamas’ ability to operate and launch attacks.
Civilian Deaths and Regional Protests Add to Rising Tensions
While the IDF reported success in its mission to hit terror targets, humanitarian groups and news agencies reported growing concerns over civilian casualties and the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to Al Jazeera, Israeli military strikes killed at least 115 Palestinians in the latest operations. Among the dead were 92 people who had gathered seeking food aid and two civil defense workers. Over 200 others were reported wounded.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, throughout the past 24 hours, 18 individuals have perished from starvation. Aid agencies have warned that famine conditions are worsening, especially among children. Reports suggest that many children in Gaza are dying from hunger caused by what is being described as an Israeli-imposed blockade.
Adding to the tension, Israeli aircraft dropped warning leaflets over residential neighborhoods in Deir el-Balah, asking civilians to evacuate. At the same time, the head of the Israeli military visited Shujayea, a northern area of Gaza, where he reaffirmed military plans to continue operations.
Across the Middle East and North Africa, protests erupted in several countries. Demonstrators in Tunisia, Iraq, Turkiye, Morocco, Lebanon, and the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah marched to show their anger over the ongoing siege of Gaza. Many of them called for an end to the attacks and increased international pressure on Israel.
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Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged that he prevented the extension of a senior UN official’s visa. The official had testified about the humanitarian crisis and used the term “weaponized hunger” to describe the situation in Gaza. The move has drawn criticism from international rights groups.
In the occupied West Bank, local Palestinians accused Israeli settlers of attacking water sources, making life even harder in villages already struggling with limited access to basic resources.