Israeli authorities accused both targets of violating a ceasefire by rebuilding militant infrastructure and planning attacks against civilians and troops. The captured hostages held by Awad were identified as Daniella Gilboa, Karina Ariev, Doron Steinbrecher, Naama Levy, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, and Eitan Mor. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the operations as precise efforts to destroy the organization's funding and leadership.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Israel Kills Hamas Finance Chief and Commander Who Held 7 Hostages
War27 days ago
Muhammad Abu Alwan was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza on Wednesday after overseeing the funding of militant operations in Khan Younis. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet stated that Alwan, the head of Hamas's finance department, directed the transfer of more than 1 billion NIS during the war to sustain the group. In a separate strike over the weekend, the IDF killed Mahmoud Abd al-Fattah Awad, a commander in Gaza City who had kept seven Israeli hostages in an underground tunnel.
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