Hamas militants launched a large-scale invasion of Israel in early October

 Hamas militants launched alarge-scale invasion of Israel in early October

On November 13, during air strikes in the Gaza Strip, the IsraeliDefense Forces killed the commander of the Hamas brigade's anti-tank missilelauncher, Yaqub Ashour. This was reported by the IDF press service.

It is noted that Ashur was previously a battalion commander andparticipated in the planning and execution of attacks on IDF soldiers.

The press service added that a senior Hamas operative, Mohammed HamisDababash, was also eliminated. In the past, he was the head of Hamas militaryintelligence.

"For the past two years, he was the secretary to Zakaria AbuMammar, head of Hamas' international relations department in the PoliticalBureau, who was also Hamas' representative at the summit of national andIslamic factions in the Gaza Strip. Hamis was involved in the leadership of theterrorist attack in the Atsmon community in March 2002, during which fiveIsraelis were killed. The terrorist attack was led by Mohammed Sinwar, WaelNasser and Taysir Mubasher", — the statement said.

In addition, Tahsin Muslem, the commander of a combat assistance companyin charge of special forces in Beit Lahiya, was killed. Also killed in the IDFstrikes were Jihad A'azem, a Hamas intelligence officer in Zaytun, and MunirHareb, head of the Rafah Brigade's public relations department.

In turn, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said that Hamas had lostcontrol of Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

"There are no Hamas forces capable of stopping the IDF. The IDF isadvancing to every point. The Hamas organization has lost control of the GazaStrip. Terrorists are fleeing to the south. Civilians are looting Hamas bases.They have no confidence in the government", — said Gallant.

According to him, the Israeli forces are moving "according to planand are carrying out their tasks accurately and deadly." He also addedthat in recent days, the IDF has "intensified" its activities againstHamas tunnels.

"We are working on tasks. We don't have a stopwatch. We have goals.We will achieve our goals". — he emphasized.

According to The Times of Israel , a photo ofIDF soldiers in the Gaza parliament building, which Hamas has been using since2007, was posted on social media.

What preceded the events?

Earlier, Sky News reportedthat Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed that IDF soldiers were inthe center of Gaza City, and that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar was surrounded in abunker.

Subsequently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the IDFwould retain control of the Gaza Strip after the war.