Top Hamas commander killed in Israel air strike just hours before four-day truce & hostage release begins

A TOP Hamas commander was killed in an Israeli air strike just hours before a four-day ceasefire began.

Footage released by the Israeli Air Force appeared to show troops wiping out Omar Abu Jallah in Gaza, followed by fighter jets attacking a Hezbollah terror cell in Lebanon.

The IAF said Abu Jallah was a senior naval commander based in Khan Yunis, in the besieged Gaza Strip.

A statement from the force read: "The Air Force, guided by the intelligence of the Navy, AMN and Shin Bet, eliminated Amr Abu Jallah, the commander of the Hamas naval force in Khan Yunis, and another terrorist from the organisation's naval force.

"Omar Abu Jallah was a senior in the naval force, and was involved from the beginning of the fighting in sending a number of naval attacks that were foiled by our forces."

The IAF later posted a video saying its fighter jets struck a number of rocket launcher sites in Lebanon.

The strikes were in response to fire directed at northern Israel earlier in the day on Thursday, The Times of Israel reports.

The army said its air strikes destroyed launchers belonging to the Hezbollah terror group used in attacks against Israel in recent days, as well as “military sites” used by the group.

The Israeli paper reported that at least 80 rockets, missiles, and mortars were fired from Lebanon at northern Israel on Thursday.

A truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza began on Friday with 13 women and children due to be released in the afternoon.

Israel confirmed they have the names of the trapped civilians set to be freed on Friday.

The agreement to release 50 Israeli hostages trapped in Gaza had previously been delayed over "last minute" details between Israel and Hamas.

But it began on Friday at 7am with the first group of hostages set to be released at 4pm.

A spokesperson said lists of civilians due to be released had been exchanged, including names of the women and children being let go tomorrow.

In exchange for hostages, around 150 Palestinian women and children will be freed from Israeli prisons at a ratio of 3:1, Sky News reports.

Israel has released a list of 300 Palestinian prisoners who could be released as part of the deal.

The majority are teenagers arrested over the past year for a string of minor offences.

Palestinian civilians have been left fleeing for their lives as Israel attempts to destroy Hamas after the terror group massacred 1,200 civilians on October 7.

Families living in Gaza have been caught in the brutal crossfire, with regular accusations that the terrorists are attempting to use them as “human shields”.

Much of the northern part of the strip has been turned into a devastated warzone - with ruined buildings, dwindling supplies and horrific suffering for Gaza’s people.

The Red Cross estimates that some 1.5million civilians have been forced to flee south amid the Israeli onslaught from land, air and sea.

Figures for the death toll remain unverified - but Hamas’ health officials claim more than 11,000 civilians, including more than 4,500 children have been killed.

Israel disputes these figures - and US President Joe Biden said he had “no confidence” in them.

But Benjamin Netanyahu admitted Israel has "not been successful” in reducing civilian casualties.

But he said the deaths must be blamed on Hamas - not Israel.