IDF: Rafah Brigade Commander who was eliminated was involved in holding Goldin and Nimrod Cohen

The IDF and Shin Bet announced that Na'el Abu Ubeid, the Hamas Rafah Brigade commander eliminated this week, was involved in holding Lieutenant Hadar Goldin in Hamas captivity since 2014 and in holding Staff Sergeant Nimrod Cohen during the war. The elimination was defined as closing a circle.

The IDF and Shin Bet stated in a joint announcement that Na'el Abu Ubeid, the commander of the Hamas Rafah Brigade who was eliminated on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, in the Gaza Strip, was involved in holding Israeli hostages for years. According to the lengthy intelligence investigation, Abu Ubeid served in 2014 as deputy commander of the Rafah Brigade and took part in holding Lieutenant Hadar Goldin in Hamas captivity. During the current war, he was involved in holding several hostages, including Staff Sergeant Nimrod Cohen, who was held in an underground infrastructure in the Rafah area. The IDF and Shin Bet defined his elimination as closing a circle and vowed to continue operating against the terrorists who took part in the October 7 massacre.