Full Breakdown
IDF and Shin Bet Target Hamas and Islamic Jihad Operatives Linked to the Oct 7 Attack
7/23/2026, 8:11:30 PM
Core Event: Recent Strikes Eliminate Key Terrorists
In a series of coordinated operations, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced the elimination of several senior militants who participated in the Oct 7, 2023, onslaught.
- Northern Gaza (strike “the day before yesterday”) – The IDF reported killing three Hamas operatives: Abdallah Jahja, a naval-force member who infiltrated Israel on Oct 7 and later planned maritime attacks; Mohammed al-Hawari, head of a cell in the Zeitoun Battalion; and Sabhi Saqallah, an intelligence operative in the same battalion.
- Gaza City (Saturday strike) – Adham Ibrahim Sha’aban Nasman, chief of operations for Hamas’s Gaza City Brigade and former Nukhba battalion commander, was killed. The IDF said Nasman directed the brigade’s infiltration on Oct 7 and oversaw the captivity of multiple Israeli hostages.
- Central Gaza (Friday strike) – Two Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants were killed: Taher Ahmad Salem Abd al-Wahed, who commanded the abduction of Inbar Haiman at the Nova music festival; and Salah Subhi Salah Qatrawi, who had planned attacks near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid sites.
The IDF framed each strike as a removal of an imminent threat and, in the case of Nasman, a response to what it described as a breach of the cease-fire agreement through attempts to rebuild Hamas’s capabilities.
Background & Context
On Oct 7, 2023, Hamas militants crossed into southern Israel, killing roughly 1,200 civilians and seizing 251 hostages. The ensuing war has seen Israel conduct a “large-scale retribution campaign” aimed at hunting down every participant. Although a cease-fire was declared in October 2025, the IDF has continued targeted strikes against individuals it deems to pose ongoing threats.
Data & Statistics
- The IDF stated that in the past week it killed at least five militants involved in the Oct 7 onslaught.
- In July 2024, the military reported killing at least 10 Oct 7 terrorists, eight terror commanders, and 29 operatives working to restore Hamas infrastructure.
- Israeli estimates place 5,000 militants in the Oct 7 infiltration, with more than 1,200 killed in Israel and over 1,500 killed in Gaza during the war.
- An intelligence assessment disclosed 12 individuals from Gaza’s professional soccer community who were simultaneously members of Hamas or PIJ; the IDF said they had been killed in the war.
Official Statements & Responses
In a separate briefing, the IDF refuted claims that Israel deliberately targets civilian athletes or aid workers, describing such narratives as “false campaigns” promoted by actors opposed to Israel.
On-the-Ground Reports
Survivors of Hamas captivity posted reactions on social media.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Civilian casualties were reported in adjacent strikes, but the exact toll and composition of those casualties remain unverified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Another piece of garbage [has been] sent to Hamas’s giant landfill in hell,” — Ziv Berman
- “Even after October 7, the message stayed with us. Any terrorist who took part in the massacre, murder, kidnapping, or holding hostages: Your reckoning will come!” — Today
- “Today, one of the scoundrel terrorists who held me captive was killed,” — Emily Damari, captivity survivor
