IDF Kills Hamas Nukhba Commander Who Took Part in Nir Oz Attack on Oct. 7

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

The IDF announced today (Sunday) that over the weekend it carried out a series of offensive operations in the Gaza Strip and in Judea and Samaria, killing two Hamas operatives, including a Nukhba operative who took part in the massacre in the communities surrounding Gaza on Oct. 7.

According to the IDF Spokesperson’s announcement, IDF forces struck in southern Gaza yesterday and killed Salem Jamal Abd al-Rahman Abu Labad, who served as a Nukhba cell commander in the Hamas terrorist organization. The military said the operative participated in the raid on Kibbutz Nir Oz during the Oct. 7 massacre.

In another strike carried out Friday in central Gaza, Mohammed Abd al-Nasser Mohammed Khatib was killed. He served as a commander in the Maghazi Battalion of Hamas’s military wing. The IDF said the two operatives "operated under the organization’s military wing and attempted to advance terror plots against our forces," and that "the operatives were killed in precise aerial strikes to remove the threat."

The IDF also said that Southern Command forces remain deployed in the area in accordance with the agreement and that they "will continue operating to remove any threat."

Alongside the fighting in Gaza, IDF forces from the Samaria Brigade completed a large-scale operation at several locations in the area. During the operation, Hamas operatives, people in possession of weapons and individuals accused of inciting terrorism were arrested, while hundreds of buildings were extensively searched.

The IDF said that as early as Thursday, fighters from the Duvdevan unit completed a targeted operation in the village of Tal, from which the shooting attack took place last weekend. As part of the operation, wanted suspects who, according to the military, had engaged in incitement to terrorism were arrested. That same night, fighters from the Nahal Reconnaissance Unit also operated, arresting a wanted suspect who possessed weapons and another wanted suspect affiliated with the Hamas terrorist organization.

Later, on Friday, a large-scale brigade operation was completed with the participation of fighters from Duvdevan, the Nahal Reconnaissance Unit and reserve forces from Battalion 8555. During the operation, the forces searched more than 120 buildings in the villages of Asira ash-Shamaliya, Urif and Einabus. Two wanted suspects were arrested as part of the operation, including a suspect who, according to the IDF, placed dummy explosives on a major Israeli road in northern Samaria.

In addition, during the operation, the forces questioned about 100 suspects whom the IDF said were involved in terrorist activity. Those questioned included suspects affiliated with Hamas, weapons dealers and possessors, as well as individuals accused of inciting terrorism.