One of the commanders was identified as Ihab Jamil Abu Taqiya, a squad commander in Hamas' military wing, the statement said, adding that he was involved in holding Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity at the beginning of the war.

Ibrahim Gihad Muhammad Abu Oshaiba, a platoon commander in Hamas' military wing, was also killed in the strike, according to the Israeli military.

It claimed that throughout the war, and particularly recently, both commanders advanced attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians and operated to restore the capabilities of Hamas, "in systematic violation of the ceasefire."

The Israeli military said that measures were taken to mitigate harm to civilians before the strike.

The development came despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October 2025.

The ceasefire halted Israel's large-scale offensive, but Israeli strikes have continued. The U.S.-backed Gaza peace plan envisages further Israeli withdrawals alongside the disarmament of Hamas, but implementation has stalled.