Asma Kamal Shehadeh Abu Tim

Asma Kamal Shehadeh Abu Tim was a field-level commander within the Hamas terror organization's military apparatus in the Gaza Strip. He gained notoriety for his direct involvement in the October 7, 2023, onslaught against Israeli civilians, specifically during the infiltration of Kibbutz Nir Oz. According to IDF intelligence, Abu Tim was a key participant in the abduction of three specific hostages: Nurit Cooper, Amiram Cooper, and Alexander Dancyg. While Nurit Cooper was released during a humanitarian window in late October 2023, both Amiram Cooper and Alexander Dancyg were later confirmed to have died in Hamas captivity.

Following the initial massacre, Abu Tim remained an active combatant within the southern Gaza Strip. The IDF reported that he continued to plan and execute attacks against Israeli security forces and civilians throughout the ongoing conflict. His role as a cell commander made him a persistent tactical threat to IDF operations aimed at dismantling Hamas's remaining infrastructure. On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the IDF confirmed that Abu Tim was eliminated in a precision airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip. His death is part of a broader Israeli military effort to achieve accountability for the perpetrators of the October 7 atrocities and to degrade the command structure of Hamas cells still operating in the territory. The elimination underscores the IDF's long-term commitment to pursuing every individual involved in the kidnapping and murder of Israeli citizens, regardless of the time elapsed since the initial attack.