IDF Eliminates Hamas Nahba Commander Who Led October 7 Raid

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet announced Friday the elimination of a Hamas Nahba company commander, Muhammad Mahmoud Marshad Al-Qadi, in an airstrike in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Wednesday. According to the IDF and Shin Bet, Al-Qadi commanded the Hamas raid on the Sufa military outpost on October 7, during which over 70 Hamas terrorists breached the border fence and attacked forces. He was also involved in holding hostages in Rafah during the ongoing war.

In recent weeks, Al-Qadi had been leading training for Hamas operatives, working to restore the organization's capabilities, and advancing terror plans against IDF forces and Israeli civilians, in systematic violation of the ceasefire. The IDF released footage of the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit's takeover of the Sufa outpost.

On October 7, forces from the Nahal Brigade's reconnaissance unit, Battalion 50, the Caracal Battalion, a female tank crew, combat helicopters, and Shayetet 13 engaged in fierce battles to repel the terrorists. The Sufa outpost sustained heavy damage, with terrorists detonating and setting fire to parts of its infrastructure. IDF forces killed over 50 terrorists during the fighting at the outpost.

The battle for Sufa became a symbol of the war, representing the heroic stand of border outpost soldiers who, for hours, resisted massive attacks by thousands of terrorists. This resistance, often at point-blank range, is seen as emblematic of the struggles at all Gaza Division outposts, where soldiers fell, were captured, and infrastructure was severely damaged during the October 7 onslaught.