The Israel Defense Forces announced it eliminated the commander of a Nukhba cell that infiltrated Kibbutz Kisufim on October 7, 2023, in a strike in the central Gaza Strip. Additional Hamas operatives were also killed in the operation, according to the military.
The Israel Defense Forces announced Saturday evening that it killed the head of a Hamas Nukhba cell that infiltrated Kibbutz Kisufim on October 7, 2023, along with two additional Hamas operatives. The military identified the commander as Muhannad Asaad Mahmoud Abu Ghazal, who was killed in a precision strike in the central Gaza Strip on Monday. The IDF and Shin Bet said the operation was part of the ongoing effort to reach all those who participated in the October 7 massacre, vowing "one by one — we will reach all."
In separate strikes on Tuesday, the military said it killed Raed Hani Mohammed, an aerial surveillance operative in Hamas's aerial array, and Nabhan Mohammed Nabhan al-Amsi, the head of the military intelligence desk in the Hamas Gaza City Brigade. The IDF said the operatives were advancing terror plots against Israeli forces and civilians at the time of the strikes. The three eliminations were announced simultaneously Saturday evening, with the military providing a timeline of the operations.
The Zioneer has previously reported on other eliminations of Nukhba commanders involved in the October 7 attacks. On June 7, the IDF and ISA eliminated Sakr Abu Karim, a Nukhba commander who also led the infiltration into the Kisufim area and was rebuilding Hamas terror infrastructure in southern Gaza. The Saturday announcement brings the total number of senior Nukhba operatives killed in recent weeks to at least four, according to IDF statements.
The military has not released further details on the specific intelligence that led to the strikes or the exact locations of the operations beyond the central and northern Gaza Strip. The IDF said steps were taken to mitigate civilian harm during the strikes.
4 developments
- DevelopingIDF eliminates senior Hamas commander involved in October 7 infiltration at Kisufim
- StrongIDF says it killed 12 terrorists in Gaza, including senior Hamas figures and Oct. 7 Nukhba cell commander
- StrongIDF kills two Hamas cell commanders in central and northern Gaza strikes
- StrongIDF kills Hamas cell commander who took part in October 7 abduction of three from Nir Oz
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