The Lead
The IDF and Shin Bet (ISA) have eliminated a Hamas operative who held Romy Gonen and the late Cpl. Noa Marciano in captivity, according to official statements and Israeli media reports on Friday evening.
The IDF and Shin Bet announced on Friday the elimination of Abd al-Rahim Abd al-Hay Yusuf Kardi, a deputy squad leader in the military wing of the Hamas terror organization. According to security officials, Kardi was directly involved in holding Israeli hostages Romy Gonen and Cpl. Noa Marciano (z"l) during their time in captivity.
Operational Details
Kardi was targeted in an airstrike in Gaza City on Thursday. Beyond his role as a terror operative, Israeli authorities revealed that he simultaneously served as a doctor at Shifa Hospital. Security forces stated that Kardi continued to promote terror plots against IDF forces and Israeli civilians throughout the war, posing an immediate threat to forces operating in the region.
Context of the Hostages
Romy Gonen was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7. Cpl. Noa Marciano was also abducted during the Hamas-led massacre; her death in captivity was later confirmed by the IDF, and her body was recovered by security forces in November 2023. The elimination of Kardi follows a series of targeted operations aimed at those directly responsible for the abduction and detention of Israeli citizens.
Ongoing Security Operations
The IDF Southern Command remains deployed in the area in accordance with current operational agreements and continues to act to remove threats. This strike underscores the ongoing intelligence effort to track and eliminate Hamas members who utilized civilian infrastructure, including medical facilities, to facilitate terror activities and the holding of hostages.
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