Days after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani mourned the killing of an Al Jazeera “journalist” in an Israeli strike, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) revealed that he was a Gaza-based Hamas terrorist. Ahmed Washah, besides being on the payroll of the Qatari state broadcaster, was reportedly a Hamas sniper.
An airstrike in northern Gaza “eliminated Ahmed Samir Muhammad Washah, a terrorist in Hamas’ military wing who simultaneously served as a photojournalist for the Al Jazeera network and as a sniper operative for Hamas,” the IDF said in a statement on Monday.
The Israeli military released an internal Hamas document listing Washah as a member of its “military wing.” Released photographs and video clips show him wearing Hamas terrorist attire and handling various weapons.
Washah was in the company of several other terrorists when he was targeted. He was killed alongside Sabai Hasna, who took part in the October 7 massacre and held 21-year-old Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov captive. The IDF disclosed that “Sabai Zaher Abd al-Hamid Abu Hasna, a Nukhba terrorist in Hamas’ military wing. Throughout the war, Abu Hasna planted explosive devices and recently attempted to advance terrorist attacks targeting IDF troops operating in the area.”
“Abu Hasna infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7th massacre and took part in holding Omer Shem Tov hostage in Hamas captivity,” the IDF statement added.
In keeping with family tradition, Washah’s elder brother, Mohammad, also pursued a dual career as a Hamas terrorist and Al Jazeera scribe. He was killed in an Israeli strike in April. The IDF identified him as a “senior commander in the anti-tank missile system within Hamas’s military wing.”
On Monday, Mayor Mamdani had evoked Washah’s killing to attack the pro-Israel U.S. advocacy group AIPAC.
Meanwhile, Israel continues to counter Hamas terrorist aggression coming from Gaza. The military destroyed several rocket launchers aimed at southern Israel. “Overnight, the IDF struck and dismantled four rocket launch positions in several areas across the Gaza Strip,” the IDF revealed Wednesday. “The launch positions were prepared to fire rockets against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, and therefore posed an immediate threat.”
In another overnight operation, Israeli military and security services conducted a large-scale counter-terrorism drive in the West Bank. “IDF soldiers, the ISA, and Israel Border Police forces operating in Judea and Samaria launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation in the area of Bethlehem,” the IDF said. “As part of the operation, the forces searched approximately 50 structures and apprehended 19 wanted individuals, including arms dealers. In addition, the forces located and confiscated an M-16 rifle, along with ammunition and weapon parts.”
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