Israel establishes an intelligence division to combat Hamas ‘commandos’

The goal of the new organisation, known as Nili, is to eliminate members of the elite Nukbha unit of Palestinian terrorists.

Israeli media claimed on Sunday that the Mossad and Shin Bet intelligence services have established a new operations team to track down members of the Hamas commando squad that was in charge of the terrorists’ surprise raid on Israel earlier this month.

Nili will concentrate on finding and assassinating every member of Hamas’ elite Nukbha force involved in the deadly raid that claimed 1,400 Israeli lives and resulted in the capture of an additional 210 hostages. Nili takes its name from a Jewish spy ring that operated in Palestine in the early 20th century and helped the British fight the Ottomans during World War I. Hebrew meaning “the Eternal One of Israel will not lie” is the group’s moniker.

According to the Israel Defence Forces, at least two Nukbha commanders have already perished in airstrikes: Ali Qadhi, company commander, and Billal al-Qedra, commander of the group’s Khan Younis unit. Ten further members of the group are said to have died on Wednesday.

Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar and military commander Muhammad Deif, both of whom are reportedly hiding out in a system of reinforced tunnels beneath Gaza, are at the top of Israel’s most-wanted list.

In response to the Hamas incursion, the IDF bombed Gaza with a ferocity never before seen in its history, razing entire neighbourhoods and, as of Sunday, killing more than 4,300 Palestinians.

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International organisations have expressed concern over West Jerusalem’s retaliation, including the United Nations, where human rights experts have charged Netanyahu’s administration with breaking both criminal and humanitarian law by depriving the civilian population of essential supplies like water, food, fuel, and medicine.

Even Israel’s US friends, who have promised billions in military aid and sent thousands of troops, missile batteries, and carrier groups to the region to threaten its rivals, have pleaded with it to use prudence. The delivery of urgently required humanitarian aid to Gaza has been postponed in order to allow for the anticipated Israeli ground assault of Gaza in the hopes of securing the release of more hostages.

On Friday, the Red Cross took custody of two of the captives, a mother and daughter from Chicago who were visiting an Israeli kibbutz when they were kidnapped. On Saturday, Hamas listed two more prisoners it was willing to release in a similar way. Netanyahu’s office rejected this offer, calling it “false Hamas propaganda” meant to deter Israel’s military action.

Several days after the assault, Netanyahu declared in a televised speech that “every member of Hamas is a dead man.” Defence Minister Yoav Gallant gave Hamas members “two options: either die in their positions or surrender unconditionally” on Wednesday, vowing to “wipe out the Hamas organisation and dismantle it of all its capabilities.”