IDF Affirms Elimination of Hamas Leader Behind Kibbutz Nir Oz Assault on October 7
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Tel Aviv, Jan 1 (NationPress) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Tuesday the elimination of Hamas’ Nukhba Platoon commander, Abd al-Hadi Sabah, following a recent drone strike.
According to the IDF, Sabah was responsible for orchestrating the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz during the tragic massacre on October 7, 2023.
The commander of the Nukhba Platoon in Hamas' Western Khan Yunis Battalion was taken out in the vicinity of Khan Younis, located in southern Gaza, as stated by the IDF.
"Abd al-Hadi Sabah, a Nukhba Platoon Commander in the Western Khan Yunis Battalion, was eliminated during an operation conducted by the IDF and ISA based on intelligence," the IDF reported on X.
They further stated, "Abd al-Hadi Sabah—who operated from a shelter in the Humanitarian Area of Khan Younis—played a significant role in the infiltration into Kibbutz Nir Oz during the devastating October 7 massacre. Sabah also led and executed numerous assaults against IDF forces throughout the ongoing conflict. The IDF and ISA will persist in their operations against all terrorists involved in the heinous October 7 incident."
Earlier on the same day, the IDF and Shin Bet confirmed the elimination of Anas Muhammad Saadi Masri, the commander of the northern sector of the rocket unit for Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Masri was characterized as a "key figure accountable for carrying out various terrorist operations, managing, and directing actions targeting Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers."
Since October 7, Masri had been actively overseeing rocket fire from northern Gaza into Israeli border regions. He was also in charge of several operatives involved in launching rockets towards Israeli territory.
Previously, the IDF announced that its units, in collaboration with Shin Bet, had eliminated 14 Hamas terrorists, six of whom participated in the October 7 massacre. These operations were part of the ongoing activities of the IDF's 162nd 'Steel' Division in the Gaza Strip.
The 162nd Division operated in the regions of Jabalia and Beit Lahia, as part of a cohesive effort by the IDF and Shin Bet to locate and eliminate terrorists involved in the October 7 attack.
On October 7 last year, Hamas executed a widespread terror assault on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 fatalities and more than 250 hostages taken. Approximately 100 hostages currently remain unaccounted for, with many feared deceased.
In retaliation, Israel initiated a robust counteroffensive targeting Hamas units within Gaza. However, this operation has led to over 45,000 Palestinian casualties, raising global concerns and prompting calls for a ceasefire.
The conflict has further escalated, with Houthi rebels from Yemen and Hezbollah from Lebanon—both viewed as proxies for Iran—intensifying their assaults on Israel, forcing Tel Aviv into a multifaceted confrontation.
