IDF announces surrender of 2 Hamas commanders in Rafah following complete encirclement; one participated in Oct 7 attack, held hostages

Israel Defense Forces released images on Tuesday showing the arrest of two Hamas operatives in Gaza.

The terrorists were identified as Yousef Qadi – a Hamas platoon commander who took part in the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of Israel and held several Israeli hostages in Gaza who have since been released – along with Muhammad Zaarab, a commander in a Hamas sniper unit. 

Brave Hamas terrorists. These two surrendered to the IDF today. One took part in the attack on Israeli civilians on 7th October & personally held hostages in Gaza. They were reportedly eager to squeal on their fellow terrorists to the IDF, providing valuable intelligence. pic.twitter.com/TvdHPkduul

— Rɪᴄʜᴀʀᴅ Kᴇᴍᴘ ⋁ (@COLRICHARDKEMP) May 6, 2025

Forces from the 188th Armored Brigade Combat Team, operating under the 36th Division Command, arrested the terrorists, who surrendered in the neighborhood of Shabura in Rafah.

In recent weeks, the IDF has been clearing Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. The surrender of senior Hamas terrorists to IDF troops has only been reported a few times during the most recent phase of operations. Earlier in the war, the IDF often released images showing Hamas fighters, often in large numbers, surrendering to IDF units. 

A search of the terrorists uncovered several knives. According to the military, their interrogation by the Shin Bet has already produced intelligence regarding additional terror infrastructure in the Rafah area.

The fighting in Rafah, which began several weeks ago with the encirclement of the city by the IDF, as well as the establishment of the Morag Corridor, continues and is expected to expand to other neighborhoods. Dozens of weapons and terrorist infrastructure have been destroyed and dozens of terrorists have been eliminated so far, as part of the 188th Armored Brigade's activities.

Alongside the announced expansion of military operations in the Gaza Strip, Israel is preparing a new system for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza’s residents.

Under the new plan, Israel – working in cooperation with a U.S. company – will establish distribution centers to provide aid, water, and sanitation to Gaza civilians. Distribution will take place in 'sterilized' zones in Rafah, between the Morag Corridor and the Philadelphi Corridor. Gaza residents entering these humanitarian areas will undergo IDF inspections prior to entry. This approach differs from the earlier designation of al-Muwasi as a humanitarian zone earlier in the war.

The IDF believes that the Rafah distribution centers, along with the cutting off of aid to the rest of the Gaza Strip, will encourage the evacuation of southern Gaza from Hamas-controlled areas. Gazans seeking to enter the new humanitarian zone will be checked by Israeli security forces, including the Shin Bet (Israeli security agency), to weed out Hamas terrorists. 

Aid distribution will reportedly be organized on a per-family basis, with one representative from each family permitted to collect a designated amount of aid at the distribution centers. As previously reported, the distribution will be managed by U.S. companies.

The new plan was unveiled Tuesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would help Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. 

“We're going to help the people of Gaza get some food,” Trump said on Monday evening. “People are starving, and we're going to help them get some food. A lot of people are making it very, very bad.” 

Trump also accused Hamas of stealing humanitarian aid that has been delivered. 

“If you look, Hamas is making it impossible because they're taking everything that's brought in,” Trump stated. “But we're going to help the people of Gaza because they're being treated very badly by Hamas.”