Israel says it eliminated Hamas, Islamic Jihad commanders linked to Oct. 7 attacks

The Israeli military said on February 4 that it had killed several senior militants from Hamas and Islamic Jihad in response to violations of a ceasefire agreement.

Among those killed was Bilal Abu Aati, a commander in Hamas’s elite Nukhba unit, who led the attack on the Nir Oz kibbutz on October 7, 2023, during which dozens of civilians were abducted and killed.

According to the Israeli army, Abu Aati was believed to have been involved throughout the war in holding hostages and the bodies of those who died in captivity, as well as in carrying out attacks against Israeli forces. His killing came as part of Israel’s response after militants opened fire on Israeli troops operating in northern Gaza earlier that day.

The Israeli army and the Shin Bet internal security service also said they eliminated Ali Razayna, the commander of Islamic Jihad’s northern battalion in the Gaza Strip.

Razayna was responsible for deploying fighters and planning the battalion’s defensive operations, and maintained close coordination with Hamas to organise and execute attacks against Israel. At the beginning of the conflict, he was in charge of overseeing hostages held by Islamic Jihad.

Another senior Hamas figure killed was Mohammad Atzam Hasan al-Bil, a key militant and cell leader in the Shati area. He was targeted in response to the ceasefire violations.

The Israeli military said al-Bil was involved in the killing of Israeli sergeant Noa Marciano, who was abducted during the militant assault on the Nahal Oz base on October 7, 2023.

By Tamilla Hasanova