IDF Discloses Killing Three Hamas Nukhba Terrorists, Including Nir Oz Kidnapper

The IDF said on October 28 that it had killed three terrorists from Hamas's Nukhba force in airstrikes in the Gaza Strip the previous week. Its announcement identified a participant in the October 7 abductions from Kibbutz Nir Oz among those killed. The strikes took place on Thursday and Friday, October 22 and 23, rather than on the day of the disclosure. According to the military, the strike in southern Gaza killed Ahmed Muhammad Ahmed Baraka. The IDF said he helped abduct several Israeli civilians during the October 7 massacre, including Alexander Dancyg, and later helped hold numerous hostages in southern Gaza. It named Nimrod Cohen among the hostages whose captivity he assisted. The Friday strike in northern Gaza killed Omar Awadallah, whom the IDF identified as a Nukhba platoon commander, and Moataz Mahmoud Mohammed Al-Nimr, another member of the force. The military said the men had advanced attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians throughout the war, particularly recently, and had worked to rebuild Hamas's capabilities in systematic violation of the ceasefire. The IDF said the airstrikes removed the threat the terrorists posed. Its English statement listed precision munitions and aerial surveillance among the measures taken beforehand to reduce civilian harm. The military said Southern Command troops remained deployed in accordance with the agreement and "will continue to operate to remove any threat."