Muhammad Abu Khatab: How the IDF eliminated one of Hamas' top snipers

A lengthy report on Ynet this past weekend has detailed how the Israeli Defence Forces eliminated one of the Nukhba (elite Hamas fighters) invaders of October 7.

When you see folks lament the "40,000 civilians" killed in Gaza, remember that they are crying about the many thousands of Hamas fighters eliminated too.

Muhammad Abu Khatab, a platoon commander in the Shati Batallion was killed on July 13 by the IDF, with confirmation coming five days later.

Unlike other Hamas fighters in other arenas, such as in Lebanon or the West Bank, Muhammad Abu Khatab will not receive a poster marking his death and for all intents and purposes is considered a "civilian" by the Gaza Health Ministry.

This Hamas sniper was featured on video speaking to his men on the morning of October 7 and returned to Gaza that day.

From this point on, Muhammad Abu Khatab wore civilian clothes and acted as a sniper in northern Gaza and the outskirts of Gaza City.

Like most snipers in Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Muhammad Abu Khatab had undergone a month of sniper training and was considered amongst the best in the Al Qassam Brigades.

These snipers are incredibly well disciplined, disappearing for two or three days at a time, then becoming active in positions he would prepare, or that would be prepared for him, adjacent to IDF positions. Muhammad Abu Khatab would be unarmed in all his movements outside, often staying in tunnels for hours or days on end.

Before reaching his position where his sniper weapon would often be brought to him. Initial IDF surveillance confirmed that he usually slept next to his own small children so an opportunity would have to be taken when he emerged in daylight for his elimination.

Read that again - the IDF decided not to eliminate one of Hamas' best snipers for fear of eliminating his children.

When the IDF did receive intelligence that Muhammad Abu Khatab was in a position to be eliminated - there was a very short window of just a few minutes to decide.

Muhammad Abu Khatab was in a mosque and there were fears Hamas had set up a deception to ensure maximum civilian damage, which is their only strategy in this war.

IDF Lawyers were also involved in the elimination of Muhammad Abu Khatab and later intelligence showed that he was not alone. In total 20 Hamas terrorists from Hamas' Shati Battalion, including Nukhba terrorists, reconnaissance operatives, and snipers were eliminated in this strike.

Abu Khatab had killed Israeli commando soldier sergeant first class Tal Lahat in an operation to destroy terrorist infrastructure at the UNWRA headquarters in Gaza City on July 9. Just four days before. So his elimination was extra sweet.

There is a very clear deception happening from the Gaza side in this war, where there is no distinction between civilian and combatant. Regardless of whether they are Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

Yet, when Muhammad Abu Khatab was eliminated there was much wailing and sadness on Gazans social media, including on X. Just days later, the IDF confirmed his elimination.

Why has no western media put investigations together like the one on Ynet, showing how many key fighters from Hamas in Gaza have been eliminated??

The deception that all deaths in Gaza are "civilians" is one reason why so many believe this to be a "genocide".

This means we are in the absurd position where it is important to detail terrorists like Muhammad Abu Khatab to showcase the ongoing war against the Gaza Palestinian terrorist army.

Muhammad Abu Khatab in action via Al Qassam video

Abu Khatab makes a hole in the wall, before his sniper rifle arrives, from where he will target IDF troops.