Hamas Confirms Ahmed al-Batsh Killed in Gaza City Strike

Hamas reportedly confirmed overnight that Ahmed al-Batsh, known as “Abu Osama,” was killed when a vehicle was struck in al-Saftawi in northwest Gaza City late Monday. Reporting from Gaza identified al-Batsh as commander of the services battalion in Hamas’s North Gaza Brigade and a senior figure in its military wing. Reports said Hamas then issued an official notice confirming his death. Israel had reported killing al-Batsh in July and described him at the time as a Nukhba cell commander, although field sources said he survived that earlier attempt.