IDF and Shin Bet Confirm: Terrorist Who Kidnapped Noa Argamani Killed

The IDF Spokesperson and the Shin Bet announced today (Sunday) that the terrorist Saher Nidal Lutfi Saqr, who was filmed during the October 7 massacre kidnapping Noa Argamani into the Gaza Strip, was killed in a strike in Nuseirat. According to the announcement, the strike was carried out yesterday in a joint operation by the IDF, the Shin Bet, and the Gideonim Unit 33 of Lahav 433. 

In recent months, it was reported that Saqr had operated alongside members of Hamas’s military wing and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, advancing terror plans against IDF forces and Israeli civilians while systematically violating the ceasefire agreement. Due to his activities, it was decided to eliminate him from the air in order to remove the threat he posed.

He is not the first terrorist involved in the kidnapping of Argamani and Avinatan Or to be killed. In October 2025, the IDF and the Shin Bet revealed that Ahmed Ibrahim Rajab Shaer, described as one of those responsible for kidnapping them from the Nova festival, had been killed in August of that year.

Argamani was kidnapped from the Nova festival in Re’im along with former hostage Avinatan Or. Footage of her being taken into Gaza on a motorcycle circulated around the world and became one of the most iconic and recognizable images of the October 7 massacre.

After eight months in captivity, Argamani was rescued in June 2024 as part of Operation Arnon, a joint operation by the Yamam, the Shin Bet, and the IDF. Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan, and Andrey Kozlov were rescued from captivity alongside her. Throughout the months of her captivity, her family campaigned for her release and return to Israel.

After her rescue, Argamani told family members about the difficult moments she experienced in captivity: "Four times, I saw death before my eyes. One time, a missile hit the house, and then there was an explosion. I was sure I was going to die."