Israel-Hamas war updates: IDF strike kills deputy head of Hamas intelligence directorate

• Image Credit: Google

• Oct 27, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The Deputy Chief of Hamas's intelligence bureau, Shadi Barud, was killed in a strike in the Gaza Strip...

Digital Desk: The Deputy Chief of Hamas's intelligence bureau, Shadi Barud, was killed in a strike in the Gaza Strip, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). The IDF has accused Barud of collaborating with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar to plan the attacks that occurred in southern Israel on October 7.

Shadi Barud had a history within Hamas, having previously led battalions in the Khan Younis region and held various positions within the terror group's intelligence directorate. The IDF made this announcement on social media platform X, where they stated, "Shadi Barud, Deputy Head of Hamas' Intelligence Directorate has been eliminated by an IDF aerial strike. He took part in the planning of the October 7 massacre and countless other deadly attacks carried out against Israelis."

The IDF further emphasized its commitment to continue targeting Hamas leaders and operatives responsible for attacks, referring to them as "barbaric attacks."

According to the Israel Defence Forces, Barud "was responsible for planning numerous terror attacks against Israeli civilians," as reported by The Times of Israel.

Notably, Israeli fighter jets conducted overnight airstrikes targeting more than 250 Hamas sites in the Gaza Strip. Notably, one of the targets was a rocket launch site hidden between a mosque and a kindergarten, which raised concerns about the use of civilian sites for military purposes.

The sites struck by Israel included various elements of Hamas infrastructure, command centers, tunnels, and rocket launchers. The IDF noted that these rocket launchers were placed within civilian areas and fired towards Israeli territory.

The Israeli Air Force issued a statement regarding these attacks, saying, "Terrorist infrastructure, combat tunnel shafts, and launchers in a civilian environment; the Air Force attacked over 250 targets of the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip."

In the midst of these developments, it has been reported that the families of 224 hostages have been notified that their loved ones are being held in Gaza by Hamas. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the IDF spokesman, confirmed this, adding that the number is subject to change as the military continues its investigations.

It's important to note that the reported number of hostages does not include four individuals who were previously held captive by Hamas, including mother and daughter Judith and Natalie Ra'anan, who were freed on Friday night, and elderly women Yocheved Lifshitz and Nurit Cooper, who were released on Monday night.

This latest wave of violence began when Hamas launched a major terror attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in significant casualties. In response, Israel initiated a strong counter-offensive against Hamas units in the Gaza Strip.

According to the health ministry of Hamas, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 7,000, underscoring the gravity of the ongoing conflict.

This situation is continually evolving, and both sides remain on high alert as the tensions in the region persist.