Joint Statement from the IDF Spokesperson, Shin Bet Spokesperson, and Israel Police Spokesperson: Security forces eliminated a terrorist from the Hamas terror organization who participated in numerous attacks in which IDF soldiers and civilians were killed.

In addition, Hamad participated in the shooting attack in Ein Yabrud in October 2003, in which three IDF soldiers fell – Sergeant Elad Pollak z”l, Sergeant Roi Yaakov Solomon z”l, and First Sergeant Erez Idan z”l. Hamad was arrested and released in 2011 to the Gaza Strip as part of the ‘Shalit deal’. Since then, he continued to belong to the military wing of Hamas and was involved in recruiting and directing the organization to promote attacks in Judea and Samaria. Prior to the strike, measures were taken to reduce the chance of civilian casualties, including the use of precision munitions and aerial observations. The IDF, Shin Bet, and Police will continue to defend the citizens and forces of the State of Israel and remove threats in the area.