Israeli forces killed Mahmoud Fatair, a Palestinian Islamic Jihad Nukhba commander who participated in the Oct. 7, 2023 infiltration of Israel and held former hostage Rom Braslavski captive in Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The military said Fatair was struck over the weekend in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza following recent attempts to advance attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians. The IDF stated it took precautions to reduce civilian harm, including use of precision munitions and aerial surveillance.
Fatair was photographed in an Islamic Jihad uniform during a November 2023 hostage handover ceremony that included Amit Shani, Ofir Engel, Moran Stela Yanai, and Itay Regev, according to the military.
Braslavski responded on social media with a video message in Arabic and a Hebrew post reading, "Every dog has its day," Followed by "7.10.2023."
The IDF also announced it eliminated Abdallah Adnan Taha Abu al-Tayf, a Hamas Nukhba Force commander who infiltrated Israel during the Oct. 7 assault. He was killed in an airstrike in the Deir al-Balah area on Sunday. According to the military, Abu al-Tayf "actively participated in combat" Against Israeli soldiers throughout the war in Gaza.
In a separate strike in Gaza City's Shati area on Sunday, the IDF eliminated Jalal Tsubeih, a commander in Hamas's Daraj Tuffah Battalion. Both strikes were directed by the Israeli Security Agency and carried out with measures to reduce noncombatant harm, including precision-guided munitions and aerial surveillance.