A senior security official was assassinated in Khan Younis, marking a dangerous escalation in the targeting of Palestinian security leaders in the Gaza Strip. The victim has been identified as Lieutenant Colonel Mahmoud Al-Astal (Abu Khaled), director of investigations in Khan Younis.
According to reports, a militant group with ties to Israel has claimed responsibility for the assassination. The group, reportedly based in an area under Israeli control and led by Hussam Al-Astal, also known as “Abu Safen,” announced their involvement in a video statement, threatening further attacks against resistance leaders in the Gaza Strip.
Security sources indicate that the assassination occurred in the Al-Mawasi coastal area northwest of Khan Younis. A vehicle reportedly overtook Lieutenant Colonel Al-Astal’s car and opened fire, killing him instantly. The assailants then fled the scene.
Following the assassination, the Ministry of Interior implemented roadblocks on major and minor roads, initiating a search for the perpetrators. Security checkpoints have been established throughout Khan Younis, with security personnel conducting thorough vehicle inspections in an effort to apprehend those responsible.
This incident follows a similar event last December in the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, where Colonel Mohammed Zamzam, a senior officer in the Palestinian Internal Security Service in the Gaza Strip, was killed in a shooting. In that case, the Ministry of Interior in Gaza arrested an individual who confessed to collaborating with the Israeli intelligence agency, Shin Bet, and admitted to being instructed to carry out the assassination.
The ongoing violence underscores the fragile security situation in the Gaza Strip and raises concerns about further instability. Investigations are underway to determine the full extent of the militant group’s network and their motives.
