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The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet have killed a series of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) operatives involved in the kidnapping and holding of hostages during the October 7, 2023, massacre, according to announcements from the military over recent weeks. The operations, carried out in the Gaza Strip, also eliminated militants responsible for the abduction of soldiers' remains and for carrying out attacks against Israeli troops.

Coverage comparison

The Jerusalem Post reported on four separate IDF announcements, each detailing the elimination of specific operatives and their roles in the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war. The reports are based on official statements from the IDF and Shin Bet, and use terms like "terrorist" and "massacre" to describe the individuals and events. The coverage attributes all information to these official sources, without independent verification from other outlets.

Key claims

  • Killing of Muhammad Na'im Jandiya: In a strike in northern Gaza on July 3, 2026, the IDF and Shin Bet killed Muhammad Na'im Jandiya, described as the head of military security for Hamas's Shajaiyah Battalion. According to the military, Jandiya took part in the kidnapping of Captain Daniel Perez during the October 7 massacre and later held Yotam Haim, Samar Talalka, and Alon Shamriz captive in tunnels below the Shuja'iya area of Gaza. The three hostages were accidentally killed by the IDF during the war, as the Jerusalem Post reported. The IDF also stated that Jandiya had been promoting terrorist plots against Israeli forces and participated in Hamas "ceremonies" in preparation for hostage release deals.
  • Killing of Zaki Youssef Mahmoud Abu Mustafa: On June 21, 2026, the IDF and Shin Bet announced they had killed Zaki Youssef Mahmoud Abu Mustafa, a PIJ terrorist who participated in the kidnapping of then-12-year-old Yagil Yaakov from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre. Yaakov was released in November 2023 as part of the first wave of hostages freed. Mustafa was identified as the Nukhba commander of the PIJ's Khan Yunis Brigade, and the IDF said he had played a significant role in attempting to rebuild the organization's capabilities, advancing attacks against Israeli troops, and exploiting Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis to train terrorists. In a separate strike, the IDF also killed Hamas Nukhba terrorist Mohammed Osama Abd al-Aziz Saba al-Eish, who was accused of facilitating recruitment and training of new Hamas terrorists.
  • Killing of Hussam al-Shafie: The IDF killed Hussam al-Shafie, a Hamas terrorist, in a strike on July 15, 2026. Al-Shafie was accused of infiltrating Kibbutz Nirim and abducting the remains of Col. Asaf Hamami, St.-Sgt. Tomer Yaakov Ahimas, and Sgt. Kiril Brodski, taking them into the Gaza Strip. He was a member of the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades' Eastern Khan Yunis Battalion. The strike was conducted following intelligence gathering and at the direction of the 143rd Gaza Division. Hamami was the commander of the Gaza Division's Southern Brigade and was the most senior IDF officer whose remains were taken by terrorists.
  • Killing of Sabai Zaher Abd al-Hamid Abu Hasna and Ahmed Samir Muhammad Washah: On June 22, 2026, the IDF and Shin Bet announced the killing of Sabai Zaher Abd al-Hamid Abu Hasna, a Nukhba terrorist who had taken part in holding Omer Shem Tov in Hamas captivity after October 7. Hasna had entered Israel during the massacre and planted explosive devices throughout the war. The same strike killed Ahmed Samir Muhammad Washah, identified as a sniper operative in Hamas's military wing and a photojournalist for Qatari state-funded broadcaster Al Jazeera. In additional strikes, the IDF killed three other armed terrorists from Hamas's military wing, including Ahmad Munir Khalil Zaza, engineering officer of Hamas West Jabalia Battalion, and Hussein Safadi, commander of Hamas's sniper array in Gaza City.
The IDF stated that it took steps to mitigate harm to civilians in these strikes, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.