The IDF announced it has killed Muhammad Washah, a Hamas operative who it says operated under the cover of an Al Jazeera journalist, in a targeted strike in central Gaza.

According to the military, Washah was not only affiliated with Hamas’s military wing but played a central role in its rocket and weapons production infrastructure. The IDF states he had been actively planning attacks against Israeli troops in the area and was considered an immediate operational threat.

Israeli officials say Washah was involved throughout the war in developing drones, rockets, and other weapon systems, as well as facilitating the transfer of weapons across the Gaza Strip.

The IDF further alleges that he exploited his media identity to move freely and support terrorist activities, using his position as cover while advancing operations against Israeli forces.