Israel-Gaza War: IDF Takes Out Top Hamas Leaders

In the the most severe outbreak of violence between the two sides since the 2014 Israel-Gaza war, heavily-armed militants of the terrorist group Hamas have been lobbing hundreds of rockets into Israel following days of clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian rioters at the Temple Mount.

About 850 rockets had been fired at Israel since Tuesday, according to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson. About 85-90% of the rockets were intercepted by Israel’s "Iron Dome" missile defense system. "In response to HUNDREDS of rockets in the last 24 hours, the IDF has struck a number of significant terror targets and terror operatives across the Gaza Strip, marking our largest strike since 2014," the IDF wrote on Twitter. "We are currently striking more terror targets in Gaza."

In an airstrike Wednesday, the IDF has taken out Hamas’ Gaza City commander, dealing a substantial blow to the Palestinian militant group’s leadership. Bassem Issa is the highest-ranking military figure in Hamas to be killed by Israel since 2014, The terrorist group confirmed his death in a statement.

The IDF said Issa was among commanders killed in a joint IDF- Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) operation earlier Wednesday involving series of targeted killings in Gaza City and Khan Younis. Others eliminated in the operation were also senior members of Hamas' General Staff who were considered close to the head of the group's military wing, Mohammed Deif.

Another terrorist leader killed in the operation is Gamal Zabda, the head of the group’s development and projects department who was the main player in Hamas' rocket unit. According to the Shin Bet, Zabda who held a PhD in mechanical engineering with a specialty in aerodynamics, was a significant source of knowledge for Hamas. Khazem Khatib, the head of the engineering department in Hamas's production division and served as deputy chief of staff was also killed.

On Tuesday, the IDF killed two top Islamic Jihad terrorists, striking a blow, it said, to the terror group's rocket infrastructure. It also eliminated the head of the Hamas anti-tank missile unit Tuesday evening in an airstrike. 

Dozens of Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been killed since the start of the latest hostilities between the two sides. The confrontations were sparked by weeks of tensions in parts of Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to expand the offensive against the terrorist groups and violent Palestinian rioters.

Former United States president Donald Trump in a statement slammed Joe Biden for his weak international leadership which emboldened Palestinian terrorists.

"When I was in office we were known as the Peace Presidency, because Israel’s adversaries knew that the United States stood strongly with Israel and there would be swift retribution if Israel was attacked," Trump wrote. "Under Biden, the world is getting more violent and more unstable because Biden’s weakness and lack of support for Israel is leading to new attacks on our allies. America must always stand with Israel and make clear that the Palestinians must end the violence, terror, and rocket attacks, and make clear that the U.S. will always strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself. Unbelievably, Democrats also continue to stand by crazed anti-American Rep. Ilhan Omar, and others, who savagely attack Israel while they are under terrorist assault."