Hamas on Sunday said the commander of its Rafah Brigade, who was a key figure in planning and overseeing the October 7, 2023 attacks, was killed in an Israeli air strike in southern Gaza. Samir Mahmoud Abu Younis, also known as Abu Mahmoud, was killed in an "Israeli assassination operation" on Saturday, the group said. The Israeli military confirmed it had killed Mr Abu Younis in a strike in southern Gaza overnight.