The Israel Defense Forces reported on Monday that Mahmoud Fatair, a commander in the Nukhba unit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group, was killed in central Gaza over the weekend. Fatair had infiltrated Israel on October 7, 2023, during the large-scale assault on Israeli communities and was directly involved in holding former hostage Rom Braslavski captive during the war in Gaza. The IDF identified him as a critical player in the attacks that crossed into Israel on that day, making him a key target in their ongoing military operations.
The IDF confirmed that Fatair was killed in the Deir al-Balah area of central Gaza during a targeted operation against terrorist movements. The military emphasized that the operation incorporated precision-guided munitions and extensive aerial surveillance to minimize risks to nearby civilians. Fatair was actively plotting attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians, which led to the decision to strike. The operation was carried out with the full backing of intelligence assessments and surveillance data.
Fatair's Involvement in Hostage Crisis
In November 2023, Fatair appeared in an Islamic Jihad uniform at a hostage-handover ceremony in Gaza, where several Israeli captives were released. That event included the return of Amit Shani, Ofir Engel, Moran Stela Yanai, and Itay Regev. Braslavski was also released during the swap and later returned to Israel, ending his time in captivity.
Rom Braslavski shared his reaction to Fatair’s death on the social media platform X. He posted a short message in Hebrew: “Every dog has its day,” followed by the date “7.10.2023,” referring to the day Fatair infiltrated Israel and began the hostage-taking. Along with this text, he shared a video in Arabic, which many interpreted as an expression of justice or a call for retribution.
IDF Eliminates Additional Commanders in Gaza
On the same day as Fatair’s elimination, the IDF conducted another operation that targeted a Hamas commander in the same region. The military stated the strike was coordinated with the Israeli Security Agency and executed after implementing necessary precautions to prevent harm to noncombatants.
The IDF also announced the killing of Abdallah Adnan Taha Abu al-Tayf, a Nukhba Force commander from Hamas who had entered Israel during the October 7 attack. Abu al-Tayf was reportedly killed in an airstrike in Deir al-Balah on Sunday. The military described him as having actively participated in combat against Israeli forces throughout the ongoing war in Gaza.
In another operation, the IDF targeted Jalal Tsubeih, a commander in Hamas’s Daraj Tuffah Battalion. He was eliminated in an airstrike in the Shati area of Gaza City. Both operations were described by the IDF as following strict protocols to avoid civilian casualties, including the use of precise military equipment and real-time monitoring.
The IDF also announced the elimination of a Hamas commander who infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 attack. Additionally, the military eliminated a commander from the Kataeb al-Mujahideen terror group, who had played a role in the abduction of Israeli hostages Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or.
Another targeted strike in southern Gaza led to the death of a Hamas commander who had operated as a doctor in Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital. The commander was involved in holding Romi Gonen in captivity and also in hiding the body of Cpl. Noa Marciano after she was killed. The IDF attributed these eliminations to ongoing intelligence and surveillance efforts, ensuring each operation was carried out with maximum precision and care.