Gaza: Nukhba Cell Commander Involved in Abduction of Israeli Tank Crew Killed

(Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

The IDF Spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that information had been verified indicating that the head of a Nukhba cell was eliminated in the Gaza Strip last week. The terrorist infiltrated Israeli territory and took part in the abduction of Armored Corps soldiers Capt. Omer Neutra, Staff Sgt. Oz Daniel, and Sgt. Nimrod Cohen. Sgt. Shaked Dahan was also killed in the incident.

According to the IDF, Jihad Samih Mahmoud Ismail was eliminated last week in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza. During the October 7 massacre, he crossed from southern Gaza into Israel and took part in the fight with the tank crew of Tank No. 3.

During the war, Ismail was involved in ambushes against IDF forces aimed at harming Israeli troops. More recently, he worked to advance terrorist attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians while systematically violating the ceasefire. He was eliminated in order to remove the threat he posed.

In addition, the IDF struck the Daraj Tuffah area in the northern Gaza Strip earlier on Wednesday and eliminated Saeed Assad Saeed Akrim, a commander in Hamas's military wing who served in the Daraj Tuffah Battalion. Recently, Akrim was involved in activating explosive devices and advancing shooting attacks against IDF forces.

In two additional strikes in the northern Gaza Strip on Tuesday, the IDF eliminated Nimer Yasser Nimer Arshi, a regional rocket operative in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad's military wing. As part of his role, he participated in rocket launches from the Daraj Tuffah area toward Israeli territory.

The second terrorist eliminated was Ahmad Bahjat Saleh Shaer, an operative in Hamas's Shejaiya Battalion who had recently been involved in planting explosive devices.

According to the IDF, the terrorists' recent activities to advance attacks while systematically violating the ceasefire posed a threat to IDF forces. They were eliminated to remove that threat.