Hamas Operative Described as ‘Journalist’ Eliminated in IDF Strike on Gaza

Latest Developments

• Hassan Aslayih Killed in Strike: The IDF said it eliminated alleged Hamas operative Hassan Aslayih when it struck a command-and-control center located at Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis on May 13. According to the IDF, Aslayih operated under the guise of a journalist and participated in the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led massacre in Israel. Aslayih documented acts of violence and brutality committed by Hamas and allied terrorists inside Israeli territory and shared them on social media.
• Anti-Narcotics Chief Killed: The Israeli airstrike on Nasser Hospital on May 13 also killed Brigadier General Ahmed al-Qudra, head of the Hamas police’s anti-narcotics division and a senior member of its Police Command Council. The reflected a broader trend of Israel targeting high-ranking figures within Hamas’s police apparatus. On January 2, Israeli forces eliminated Hamas police chief Mahmoud Salah and his deputy, Hussam Shahwan.
• West Bank Commander Eliminated: The IDF, police counterterrorism forces, and the Shin Bet intelligence agency eliminated an Islamic Jihad commander in Jenin, Nour Bitawi, during an operation to arrest him in the nearby city of Nablus on May 9. According to the IDF, Bitawi played a central role in directing, financing, and executing terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces and maintained operational ties with Hamas in Gaza and abroad. He was also responsible for transferring terror funds, recruiting and arming operatives, and overseeing the production and deployment of explosives in the Jenin area.

FDD Expert Response

“A discernible pattern has emerged in Gaza, revealing that members of terrorist organizations assume dual roles, including positions within the press. These individuals exploit their journalistic credentials to legitimize their presence on the battlefield. This tactic enables Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist factions to manipulate public perception and control the media narrative, both domestically and internationally. The blurring of lines between terrorist and media roles complicates efforts to hold bad actors accountable and undermines the integrity of journalistic reporting from conflict zones.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“Aslayih portrayed himself as solely a journalist, and in death, he is viewed by many as a victim of the ongoing war. However, his role, like other journalists with links to Hamas, requires further investigation. Terrorist groups, like authoritarian states, seek to co-opt journalists, and when they do, they put them in harm’s way.” — Seth J. Frantzman, Adjunct Fellow

FDD Background and Analysis

“American Israeli Hostage Edan Alexander Freed From Hamas Captivity,” FDD Flash Brief

“‘Outright Denials of Documented Atrocities’: Former Hostage of Hamas Decries Pulitzer for Gazan Writer,” FDD Flash Brief

“The Growing List of Al Jazeera Terrorists,” by Jonathan Schanzer