An Israeli officer sustained moderate injuries from terrorist gunfire during operational activity in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday, September 22nd, 2025. The injured officer was evacuated for medical treatment and their family has been updated, according to an IDF statement. In a separate development, Iyad Abu Yusuf, the Deputy Commander of Hamas' Naval Police, was eliminated in a precision strike in the Central Camps. The Israeli Air Force, guided by intelligence from the Israeli Navy, conducted the strike. The IDF stated that Yusuf participated in the October 7th invasion of Israel, planned ambushes against IDF troops, and was involved in securing Hamas assets in Gaza, characterizing his elimination as a significant blow to the capabilities of Hamas' Naval Police. These events occur amidst ongoing diplomatic shifts, with Belgium having recognized a Palestinian state on September 22nd, following similar recognitions by the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada on September 21st. Saudi Arabia welcomed these recognitions, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected them, calling them a reward for terrorism and reiterating there will be no Palestinian state. The previous day, an incident in Gaza City involved an explosive device targeting an Israeli tank, resulting in multiple IDF casualties.
