The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced Tuesday the elimination of Abd al-Hadi Sabah, a senior Hamas commander who led the attack on Israeli kibbutzim during the October 7, 2023, massacre.
The operation was conducted in southern Gaza in an Israeli-designated humanitarian zone in Khan Younis.
Sabah, head of Hamas’s elite Nukhba platoon within the West Khan Younis Battalion, was targeted in a precision strike based on intelligence provided by the IDF and the Israel Security Agency (ISA). Officials emphasized efforts to minimize civilian casualties during the operation.
“The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against all of the terrorists who took part in the murderous October 7 massacre,” the IDF stated on X, sharing an image of Sabah in Israel during the attack.
Sabah was identified as the mastermind behind the brutal assault on Kibbutz Nir Oz, located just two miles from Gaza’s border. During the attack, dozens of residents were killed, and many others were taken hostage.
Survivors recounted the systematic destruction of the community, where 250 cars were burned to prevent escape, homes were destroyed, and 38 residents were killed, with 75 kidnapped.
Once a thriving community for nearly seven decades, Nir Oz now stands as one of the most devastated areas from the October 7 attack. Survivors have since relocated to temporary housing in Kiryat Gat.
The IDF also announced the killing of Anas Muhammad Masri, commander of the northern sector of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s rocket unit.
Masri had been directing rocket fire from Gaza into Israel and was described as a key figure in orchestrating numerous attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers.
The October 7 attack resulted in over 1,200 deaths, predominantly civilians, including women and children, and the kidnapping of 251 individuals.
The IDF remains committed to dismantling the terrorist networks responsible for the tragedy, vowing continued action against Hamas and its affiliates.
This operation underscores Israel’s intensified efforts to hold accountable those involved in the atrocities, as the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of one of the deadliest days in its history.
