The IDF announced Sunday that it killed Salem Gamal Abd al-Rahman Abu Labad, a Hamas Nukhba cell commander who infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre, in a precision airstrike in southern Gaza on Saturday. The military said the operation was carried out in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and that forces remain deployed to remove any threat.
The IDF announced Sunday morning at 08:48 Jerusalem that it eliminated Salem Gamal Abd al-Rahman Abu Labad, a Hamas Nukhba cell commander who infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre, in a precision airstrike in southern Gaza on Saturday. The identification of the commander was the key detail released in the military's statement, which noted the operation was carried out in accordance with the ceasefire agreement.
The Zioneer first reported the elimination at 08:48 Jerusalem, initially without naming the commander. Within minutes, the military identified the target as Salem Gamal Abd al-Rahman Abu Labad, head of the Nukhba cell that led the assault on Nir Oz. The Zioneer also cited a report from N12 confirming the identity. The strike occurred on Saturday, and the IDF stated that Southern Command forces remain deployed to address any security threats.
The elimination is part of a sustained IDF campaign to target Nukhba commanders who participated in the October 7 massacre. As The Zioneer reported on June 28, the IDF eliminated Abd al-Rahman Ziyada, a Nukhba cell commander who looted an IDF vehicle. On July 8, the military killed Mohammed Emad Alrahman Abu Taima, who led the attack on Kibbutz Nirim. On July 10, Yahya Saeed Mohammed Hamdan, who infiltrated the Re'im base, was also eliminated. The military has stated its commitment to pursue all perpetrators of the October 7 attack.
The IDF has not provided additional details on the intelligence that led to the strike. The extent of any remaining threat from Nukhba operatives in southern Gaza remains unclear.
2 developments
- StrongIDF says Oct. 7 Nir Oz infiltrator, second Hamas commander killed in weekend strikes 'to remove threat'
- StrongIDF eliminates Nukhba commander who infiltrated on Oct. 7 and looted an IDF vehicle
- StrongIDF kills Hamas cell commander who took part in October 7 abduction of three from Nir Oz
- DevelopingIDF kills Nukhba cell commander who led Kisufim infiltration on Oct. 7, additional Hamas operatives
Source and signal
- Open-source intake