IDF confirms elimination of Oct. 7 Nukhba infiltrator and Hamas naval commander in Gaza strikes

Targeted Eliminations in Gaza

The IDF and security forces have successfully neutralized two key figures in the Hamas military hierarchy during operations on Wednesday and Thursday. According to military reports, the first target was Muhammad Jamal Ahmad Eid, a commander in the elite Nukhba Force. Eid was identified as one of the terrorists who infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre.

In a separate strike, the IAF targeted and killed Saleh Ziyad Ibrahim Maqdad, a commander within Hamas's naval array. These operations are part of a broader, ongoing effort to dismantle the remaining command-and-control structures of Hamas across the Gaza Strip.

Removing Immediate Threats

The military stated that both Eid and Maqdad were actively involved in planning and advancing terror plots against Israeli civilians and IDF security forces in the immediate timeline. Furthermore, the IDF reported that these operatives were working to reconstitute Hamas's military capabilities, a move characterized as a systematic violation of the current ceasefire conditions.

Earlier today, the IDF also confirmed the elimination of Sharif Shadi Ibrahim Labad, another Nukhba operative who was documented infiltrating the Erez Crossing on October 7. Labad was targeted on Tuesday in northern Gaza alongside Yusuf Saad al-Din Rashid Zaim, a Nukhba commander. The military emphasized that precision munitions and aerial surveillance were utilized in these strikes to minimize civilian casualties.

Context of Counter-Terror Strategy

As The Zioneer has previously reported, the IDF maintains a policy of "removing immediate threats" by targeting the mid-to-senior level field commanders responsible for maintaining Hamas's operational cohesion. By neutralizing experienced Nukhba officers—the unit responsible for the initial wave of the October 7 attacks—the IDF aims to degrade the effectiveness of local terror cells and prevent coordinated ambushes against Israeli forces.

These strikes follow a pattern of targeted operations against those who participated in the 2023 massacre and continue to lead guerrilla-style resistance. The Zioneer will continue to follow official updates as the IDF works to dismantle the terror infrastructure in the region.