IDF Eliminates Hamas Operatives Involved in Oct. 7 Attacks and Financial Network

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday, September 25, released the names of two Hamas operatives killed earlier in the week in Gaza. Hassan Mahmoud Siam, identified as a commander in Hamas's military wing, was killed in Gaza City. The IDF stated that Siam participated in the October 7, 2023, massacre and held four hostages: Amit Susannah, Kit and Aviva Sigal, and Dafna Elyakim. The second operative, Adham Sabhi Salim Ziara, also a member of Hamas's military wing, was killed in the same location. IDF spokesperson stated that both were eliminated in airstrikes and had been involved in attacking Israeli soldiers and planting explosives near the Gaza border, violating the ceasefire.

Earlier, the IDF reported the killing of Jabr Ma'bal, a Hamas military wing operative who managed a currency exchange network facilitating millions of shekels in foreign currency transfers for the organization. He was eliminated in Deir el-Balah in central Gaza. In a separate strike in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, Hassan al-Batta, a sniper in Hamas's military wing, was killed. The army indicated both were involved in preparing terror attacks and rebuilding the organization's capabilities.

These operations follow other recent targeted killings. On September 23, Hamas's head of finance, Mohammed Abu-Aluan, was killed in an IDF strike. The army claimed he transferred over a billion shekels to fund Hamas activities during the war and was working to restore the organization's capabilities. The IDF and Shin Bet have been intensifying pressure on Hamas through strikes against its operatives. Approximately two weeks prior, Nail Abu-Abid, a Hamas brigade commander in Rafah, was killed in a drone strike. He had replaced Mohammed Shabana, who was killed in Khan Younis last May alongside Mohammed Sinwar, then head of Hamas's military wing.