The IDF and Shin Bet announced Sunday that they have eliminated a senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist who participated in the kidnapping of Yagil Yaakov from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre.

The terrorist, identified as Zaki Yosef Mahmoud Abu Mustafa, served as a Nukhba commander in the Khan Younis Brigade of the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization. He was killed during a targeted strike in southern Gaza carried out late last week.

According to Israeli security officials, Abu Mustafa infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attacks and personally took part in the abduction of Yagil Yaakov.

The IDF also released a photograph recovered during military operations showing Abu Mustafa inside Israeli territory during the kidnapping of Yaakov on October 7.

Israeli officials said that in recent months Abu Mustafa had been heavily involved in efforts to rebuild the operational capabilities of terrorist organizations in Gaza, activities that allegedly violated the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Security officials further stated that he was involved in planning numerous terrorist attacks against Israeli forces operating in the Gaza Strip. He was also accused of attempting to conduct training exercises for terrorists inside Nasser Hospital in an effort to shield operatives from Israeli strikes.

The military said Abu Mustafa posed an immediate threat to Israeli troops in the area and was therefore targeted in a precision operation.

In a separate strike, Israeli forces also eliminated Muhammad Osama Abd al-Aziz Saba al-Eish, a Hamas Nukhba terrorist who was allegedly involved in organizing training programs for Hamas operatives and recruiting additional members into the organization.

The IDF said operations against terrorists involved in the October 7 massacre and subsequent efforts to rebuild terrorist infrastructure in Gaza will continue as part of its broader campaign against Hamas and other terror groups operating in the Strip.