Tel Aviv, Dec. 4 -- The Israel Defence Forces on Thursday confirmed the death of the commander of Hamas's East Rafah Battalion, his deputy, and a company commander during an operation in southern Gaza.

The senior operatives were among four terrorists who were spotted attempting to flee from an underground tunnel system in eastern Rafah on Sunday.

The IDF identified the eliminated commanders as Muhammad Jawad Muhammad al-Ba'ab, commander of Hamas's East Rafah Battalion, and his deputy, Ismail Kanan Abd al-Hay Abu-Labdah. Both men were involved in planning the battalion's role in the October 7 assault on southern communities.

Also killed were Abdullah Ghazi Ahmed Hamad, a member of the battalion and son of senior Hamas political bureau o...