IDF: Gaza strikes kill 7 terrorists, including Hamas commander who held hostage

The IDF and Shin Bet announced that seven Palestinian terror operatives, including a Hamas commander who held an Israeli hostage, were killed in strikes in Gaza this week. The operatives were involved in attacks on troops and civilians, violating the ceasefire.

The IDF and Shin Bet announced on Wednesday that seven Palestinian terror operatives were killed in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip earlier this week. Among those killed was Jamal Abu Saeed, a top Hamas commander who served as chief of operations in Hamas's military intelligence arm and who held Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov captive during the war. Shem Tov was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, and returned in a February 2025 ceasefire deal. Another strike in Khan Younis on Sunday killed four operatives from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including a Hamas cell commander and a Nukhba Force company commander. Separate strikes on Monday killed a Hamas sniper cell commander and a member of the Army of Islam faction. The IDF stated all operatives were advancing attacks on troops and civilians in violation of the ceasefire.