On Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a strike in the central Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The military confirmed these fatalities on Monday, identifying the terrorists as Muhammad Atiya Hassan Abu Afash, Farhat Zuhair Farhat Harara, and Abdallah Allah Riyadh Masoud Qadoum. Afash, who led the PIJ's Engineering and Specializations Array, was instrumental in developing the group's engineering capabilities and was heavily involved in attacks against IDF soldiers. His deputy, Harara, assisted in these efforts. Qadoum was in charge of the anti-tank missile array in northern Gaza, where he significantly advanced anti-tank attacks against the IDF. The IDF accused all three individuals of violating ceasefire agreements by continuing to plan and execute attacks against Israel. This military action is part of a broader response to the PIJ's activities, particularly following their involvement in the October 7, 2023, massacre, as they sought to rebuild their operational capabilities for future assaults against Israeli forces.