JERUSALEM -- Commander of Hamas' naval unit in Gaza City, Ahmed Ali, was assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on Wednesday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced in a statement.

IDF and Shin Bet security agency said that an attack drone killed Ali in the Palestinian enclave.

"Over the last few years, Ali has been involved in managing projects of Hamas' Naval Unit in the Gaza Strip," according to the statement.

During Israel's seven-month onslaught in Gaza, Ali was responsible for attacks on Israel and against ground troops operating in the Gaza St

rip.