IDF and Shin Bet Confirm Elimination of Senior Hamas Operatives Involved in October 7 Massacre

By: Fern Sidman

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) confirmed on Thursday that a targeted operation on July 10, 2025, successfully eliminated Iyad Nasr, the Deputy Commander of Hamas’ Jabaliya Battalion—a senior operative directly involved in the brutal October 7, 2023, massacre. According to official statements reported by Israel National News (INN), Nasr had infiltrated Israeli territory during the coordinated terror assault carried out by Hamas, an event that marked one of the darkest chapters in Israel’s recent history.

As the INN report detailed, Nasr was initially wounded during the ongoing conflict but subsequently returned to his operational post within the Jabaliya Battalion. Throughout the duration of the war, Nasr remained active in orchestrating attacks against Israeli forces. Specifically, in recent weeks, he directed multiple terror operations targeting IDF troops engaged in counter-terrorism missions in the Jabaliya area, particularly against the 162nd Division currently operating in northern Gaza.

The joint IDF and Shin Bet statement, cited by Israel National News (INN), emphasized the deliberate and strategic nature of the operation that led to Nasr’s elimination. This action forms part of a broader campaign by Israeli defense forces to dismantle Hamas’ command structure and hold accountable those responsible for the atrocities committed on October 7.

In addition to Nasr, two other senior Hamas operatives were killed in the same operation. Both individuals had infiltrated Israel and actively participated in the October 7 massacre, which resulted in widespread civilian casualties and abductions.

The operatives eliminated alongside Nasr were identified by Israel National News (INN) as:

Hasan Mahmoud Muhammad Mar‘i, the Commander of Hamas’ Central Jabaliya Company.

Muhammad Zaki Shamadeh Hamad, Deputy Company Commander of Hamas’ Beit Hanoun Battalion.

These figures were described by the IDF and Shin Bet as central players within Hamas’ operational hierarchy in the northern Gaza Strip. Their removal constitutes a significant blow to Hamas’ command capabilities in the region and reflects Israel’s ongoing focus on neutralizing high-value targets linked directly to terror activities against its citizens and soldiers.

The joint statement, as published by Israel National News (INN), reiterated the unwavering commitment of Israeli defense and intelligence agencies to pursue all individuals involved in the October 7 attacks. “The IDF and ISA will continue to operate against the terrorists who took part in the brutal October 7th massacre,” the statement declared, underscoring the long-term nature of Israel’s military objectives in Gaza.

The October 7 massacre, orchestrated by Hamas, saw coordinated assaults across multiple Israeli communities near the Gaza border, resulting in over a thousand deaths, the majority of them civilians, and the abduction of hundreds more. The attack triggered Israel’s comprehensive military response in Gaza, aimed at dismantling Hamas’ infrastructure, eliminating its leadership, and securing the release of hostages.

The Jabaliya area has been a focal point of the IDF’s operations, given its status as a significant Hamas stronghold and operational base. The involvement of high-ranking figures like Nasr and his associates in active combat against Israeli forces highlights the ongoing threat posed by Hamas’ entrenched leadership in northern Gaza.

Furthermore, the operation reflects the close coordination between the IDF’s operational units and Israel’s intelligence community. The Shin Bet’s role in identifying and tracking high-value terror operatives remains critical to the effectiveness of precision strikes and targeted missions, a dynamic repeatedly emphasized in INN’s coverage of the conflict.

With the conflict ongoing and the security situation in the region remaining highly volatile, Israel’s leadership has consistently affirmed its policy of pursuing those responsible for orchestrating attacks against its citizens—whether within Gaza, across the border, or elsewhere.