In a stunning strike Saturday, the IDF eliminated in one fell swoop three Hamas terrorists who had been involved in the abduction of Israeli hostages on Oct. 7.
Here’s how it happened. A cell of Hamas terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Israeli-controlled portion of Gaza to attack Israeli troops operating in central Gaza. As they approached the Yellow Line, the demarcation line between the Israeli- and Hamas-controlled sections of Gaza, IDF soldiers targeted and struck them, wiping out the entire cell.
The IDF identified Ali Sami Mohammad Shakra among those killed. He was a Hamas Nukhba platoon commander who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre and helped abduct Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alon Ohel, Eliya Cohen and Or Levy from a bomb shelter in Re’im.
Ali Sami Mohammad Shakra, eliminated by the IDF, poses during an abduction of Israelis on Oct. 7, 2023. (Credit: IDF)
Mohammad Mabhouh, a regional company commander in Hamas’ al-Bureij Battalion, and Mohammad Fuad Jaser Sayyid were also killed. Both were involved in holding Avinatan Or in captivity in Gaza. The IDF has released a photo that captured Sayyid alongside Or inside a Gaza tunnel where he was being held hostage.
The IDF said it also killed other Nukhba terrorists who had launched rockets toward Israel. The Nukhba unit of Hamas is an elite special operations force within the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. The unit is composed of highly trained special operations combatants who carry out infiltrations, raids and ambushes. Israel has said that this unit led the Oct. 7 attack against Israel in 2023.
The IDF vowed to continue to operate to remove any threats to Israel’s security.
“IDF troops in the Southern Command remain deployed in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to operate to remove any immediate threat,” the military said in a statement.