IDF Kills Two Hamas Militants in Central Gaza, Including October 7 Attack Participant

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday that it killed two Hamas militants overnight in an airstrike in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza. According to the IDF, the two operatives were recently involved in planning terrorist attacks against Israeli forces and civilians, as well as efforts to restore Hamas's military capabilities in the Gaza Strip. One of the killed militants was Mohammad Abd al-Nasser Gabr Abu Asad, a member of Hamas's Nukhba military unit, who participated in the October 7 massacre when Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli territory.

The IDF described their activities as a systematic violation of the ceasefire and stated the strike aimed to eliminate the threat they posed. The Southern Command forces remain deployed in Gaza under the current agreement and will continue operations against immediate threats to Israeli soldiers and civilians.

This strike is part of a series of targeted killings by the IDF against senior Hamas commanders and operatives, including members of the Nukhba unit involved in the October 7 attacks. Last week, the IDF killed four Nukhba commanders from the Beit Lahia battalion in a strike near Shati camp, including a platoon commander and three company commanders, one of whom also took part in the October 7 raid.

In recent days, the IDF and Shin Bet have eliminated additional Hamas operatives involved in the October 7 assault, such as Jamal Mahmoud Abu Kamil and Mohammad Bassam Mohammad Mushtahe, the latter a platoon commander implicated in holding numerous hostages. The IDF also announced the killing of Sharif Al-Hasanat, a platoon commander in Deir al-Balah, who was engaged in rebuilding Hamas's underground infrastructure and planning attacks against Israeli forces.

The ongoing operations reflect the IDF's declared objective to neutralize threats and prevent Hamas from restoring its military strength in Gaza.