Former hostage Rom Breslavski said he was overcome with emotion after learning that Talal Jaber Mohammed Abd al-Aal, the senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist killed in a recent Israeli airstrike, was the commander who held and tortured him during his captivity in Gaza.

In a social media post, Breslavski thanked the Israel Defense Forces and the Shin Bet, writing, “You avenged me. Only now can I say with 100% certainty—I won.”

He identified Abd al-Aal, whom he knew as “Abu Yusuf,” as the commander who oversaw the terrorist cell that held him captive for nearly a year. Breslavski said the terrorist personally ordered and carried out repeated acts of abuse, including jumping on his neck while he was severely malnourished, forcing him to open his mouth while bound, and spitting into it. He said Abd al-Aal repeatedly ordered his captors to tie him up and torture him, bringing him close to death on multiple occasions.

Addressing the slain terrorist directly, Breslavski wrote, “You told me to pass a message to the Shin Bet and said you weren’t afraid of them. The message was delivered. Enjoy hell.”

Earlier, the IDF and Shin Bet said Abd al-Aal commanded a Palestinian Islamic Jihad cell that infiltrated Israel during the October 7 massacre and later held Israeli hostages in southern Gaza.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)