developing· Security· Updated 17:43

IDF and Shin Bet Eliminate Hamas Commander Who Held Hostage

The IDF and Shin Bet killed Jamal Abu Said in an airstrike in Gaza City earlier this week. They said he headed operations in Hamas’s military wing and had held Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov during the war.

8 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 17:34

Plus

Watch · 3 clips

Clips the newsrooms posted about this story. They play from YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, TikTok and X.

YouTube plays free. 2 more with Plus.

Photos · 5

Photos the newsrooms posted about this story, and the ones the IDF and Magen David Adom released.

Official photos are free. 5 more with Plus.

What happened

01The IDF and Shin Bet killed Jamal Abu Said in Gaza City, identifying him as Hamas’s operations chief in its military wing.
02They said Abu Said had held Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov during the war.
03Abu Said was described as a senior Hamas figure who trained operatives outside Gaza and commanded an anti-tank missile battalion.
04The joint statement said he oversaw military specializations in Hamas’s Central Camps Brigade and managed international contacts for the organization.
05The IDF and Shin Bet said Abu Said promoted attacks against Israeli forces and civilians while trying to rebuild Hamas’s capabilities.
06One outlet said the airstrike took place on Sunday, while others said it happened earlier this week.
07Omer Shem Tov was later released, and Kikar HaShabbat said he recently visited New York with other former hostages.

According to the joint statement, Abu Said held several senior roles in Hamas over the years, including training operatives outside Gaza, commanding an anti-tank missile battalion and overseeing military specializations in the Central Camps Brigade. He also managed Hamas’s international contacts and was described as a major source of knowledge for the organization.

The IDF and Shin Bet said Abu Said had been promoting attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians and working to rebuild Hamas’s capabilities while violating the ceasefire. Several outlets said the strike was meant to neutralize the threat he posed.

Abu Said was identified by some outlets as Gamal or Jamal Abu Said, and one report said the strike took place on Sunday. Omer Shem Tov was later released, and one outlet said he recently visited New York with other former hostages.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 8 newsrooms. Updated 18:02