Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel has killed approximately two-thirds of the terrorists who entered Israel during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, with thousands of others still being pursued.
According to figures presented by Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, roughly 6,000 terrorists crossed into Israel during the attack. Katz said about 4,000 have since been killed, leaving an estimated 2,000 still alive.
Previous Israeli assessments had placed the number of infiltrators closer to 5,600. Some were killed during the initial assault, while others were captured by Israeli forces. Thousands more returned to Gaza following the massacre, with many subsequently killed during the war.
The October 7 attack left approximately 1,200 people dead and 251 people were taken hostage.
Since the attack, the IDF and Shin Bet have maintained a dedicated effort to locate those directly involved. The operation has relied heavily on intelligence gathered from photographs and videos from October 7, including material recovered from the attackers themselves, as well as facial-recognition technology and other intelligence tools.
Israeli officials say the effort targets terrorists at all levels, from senior Hamas commanders who planned the assault to individuals who participated in the killings, kidnappings and hostage-taking.
Katz said the campaign will continue until those responsible are located.
He said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the security establishment to pursue those involved “without limitation and under any circumstances,” from senior figures to lower-level participants.
The campaign has continued even amid the current ceasefire, with Israel saying some strikes have targeted individuals it considers ongoing threats to Israeli forces. The IDF said 17 people directly involved in the October 7 attack, including perpetrators, kidnappers and hostage guards, were eliminated during September alone.