Israel Raids Khan Younis Brigade Compound

Latest Developments

Israeli soldiers raided the headquarters of Hamas’s Khan Younis Brigade, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on February 4. The compound, known as the al-Qadsia outpost, served as the brigade’s main base and offices of its senior officers, including Muhammad Sinwar — the younger brother of Hamas’s Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar. According to Israel, the compound contained training areas with models of entrances to Israeli communities, military bases, and IDF armored vehicles, all of which Hamas used to prepare for the October 7 attack on Israel. The soldiers also found the brigade’s central war room.

According to the IDF, the compound also contained weapons storage facilities and tunnel shafts leading to Hamas’s underground network of terror tunnels. Nearby, the IDF discovered a workshop to manufacture weapons and tunnel infrastructure as well as many weapons, including anti-tank missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, light machine guns, explosives, grenades, and ammunition.

Expert Analysis

“Every Hamas grenade, bullet, and gun Israel destroys — in Khan Younis and elsewhere — is a potential Israeli life saved. Israel may not be able to defeat Hamas’s genocidal ideology, but it is certainly degrading the Iran-backed terrorist group’s ability to carry out its genocidal ambitions.”  — David May, FDD Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

“The IDF operations in Khan Younis against Hamas terrorist leaders is important in dismantling the terrorist organization’s ability to continue to exert control over Gaza. Khan Younis is the heartland of Hamas leaders in Gaza and has numerous headquarters of their battalions. The IDF’s continued raids and operations are essential for ridding Gaza of the Hamas terrorist threat and defending Israel against future attacks.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

Troops Faced Booby Traps and Entrenched Terrorists

IDF engineering forces neutralized many explosives set up as booby traps within the compound. They also encountered many entrenched Hamas terrorists who opened fire at Israeli troops. Israeli forces killed them with sniper fire, tank fire, and targeted airstrikes. The IDF Paratroopers Brigade also conducted operations in Khan Younis’s al-Amal neighborhood, killing numerous Hamas terrorists and locating weapons, tunnel shafts, observation posts, weapons manufacturing facilities, and dozens of other sites belonging to Hamas. The IDF reported seizing NIS 3 million in cash after raiding several sites where Hamas hid money. 

Continued Operations

Over the weekend, IDF troops conducted operations throughout Khan Younis and central Gaza. The IDF also carried out what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “mopping-up operations” in northern Gaza. Netanyahu said on February 5 that the IDF had destroyed 18 of 24 Hamas battalions in the Gaza Strip — or 75 percent. On February 5, the IDF reported killing dozens of terrorists in a 24-hour period. On February 1, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that the IDF had killed 10,000 terrorists and wounded 10,000 more during its ground operations in Gaza, eroding Hamas’s ability to fight. Since the IDF began ground operations in late October, 225 Israeli soldiers have been killed.

Related Analysis

“Israel’s Hunt for the Sinwar Brothers,” by Jonathan Schanzer

“Hamas Combat Battalions Down 70%,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Smashed in Khan Younis,” FDD Flash Brief