The IDF confirmed Sunday afternoon that it had killed Hamad Hudri, a high-ranking official in Hamas' Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades who was responsible for transferring money from Iran to the various terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian media reports said that Hudri was killed by a direct Israeli Air Force airstrike on a vehicle in which he was travelling.
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit reported that Hudri, 34, a resident of Gaza, would bring large disbursements of Iranian cash into Gaza and distribute it among the various groups that enjoy Iranian backing: Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other smaller groups. He used money-changing businesses he owned and money changers and tradesmen abroad to help launder the Iranian funds.
Hudri's financial activities played a major part in promoting terrorist activity launched from Gaza.
"The IDF and the Shin Bet security agency will continue to work to eliminate and obstruct Iranian attempts to promote terrorism out of Gaza by funding terrorist organizations – Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the rest of the terrorist groups in Gaza," the IDF said.
Earlier Sunday, the military reported it had struck a series of new targets in the Gaza Strip, including sites it says were hidden in the homes of Hamas operatives or concealed in civilian areas.
In an announcement Sunday, the IDF said jets and attack helicopters have struck tunnels, military compounds, a weapons-manufacturing facility and several rocket-launching sites.
The army says it has struck some 260 targets since fighting erupted a day earlier. Gaza terrorists have fired hundreds of rockets during that time, and air raid sirens continue to sound throughout southern Israel.
Over 600 rockets have been fired at Israel in the latest round of escalation, a senior Israeli Air Force officer reported Sunday afternoon. Three Israelis have been killed and hundreds treated for wounds of various degrees, including some listed in serious condition.
Some 400 of the 600 rockets fired from Gaza were allowed to land in unpopulated areas, and the 86% of the remaining rockets that were on track to hit populated areas were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system.
"Our air defense fighters are dealing with barrages, capabilities that Hamas has built. It's very complicated to be on the defensive, and they are doing their job well. Everything that gets though is on my desk, being investigated. The entire Air Force is working on every rocket that gets through to see how to prevent [them], to find solutions. There is no such thing as hermetic defense," the official said.
