The IDF issued a statement Monday saying that it had eliminated a cell of armed Hamas operatives in Gaza Sunday, just as it was preparing to carry out an attack on Israeli forces. The military identified two of the operatives who they said had participated in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel: Rami Ibrahim Harb and Mutaeb Ziyad Darah, members of Hamas’ elite Nukhba Force.

Two others were identified as Abd Muhammad Amasi, a member of the Popular Resistance Committees, and Tawfiq Khaldi, a Hamas operative, along with three other Hamas terrorists.

“Yesterday, IDF forces identified an armed terrorist cell from the Hamas terror organization that was planning to carry out a terror plot against our forces,” the military posted in a statement on X. “The IDF attacked and eliminated the armed terrorists in order to remove the threat.”

The IDF then identified the terrorists.

“It can now be confirmed that among the terrorists who were attacked and eliminated were Rami Ibrahim Harab and Muaz Ziad Dra — two Nukhba terrorists who infiltrated the country’s territory during the murderous massacre on October 7 and who planned to carry out terror plots targeting IDF forces operating in the Strip in the immediate time frame. [Also identified were] Abd Muhammad Amzi, a terrorist in the “Popular Resistance Committees” terror organization, an organization operating to advance terror plots under Hamas sponsorship; and Tufiq Khaldi, a terrorist of the Hamas terror organization. Together with the terrorists, three additional Hamas terrorists were eliminated.”

The IDF insisted that its forces were deployed to the area according to the ceasefire agreement but would continue to act against threats to its forces.

“IDF forces under Southern Command are deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” the military said.