By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM (Worthy News) – Israel’s military said Friday it had “eliminated” a mastermind of aerial attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023, when 1,200 people were killed by Hamas and other air strikes targeting Israeli forces.
Nidal Al-Najar, the head of Hamas’s Aerial Unit unit in Gaza City, was killed “in a joint operation” by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (ISA), the military confirmed.
“Al-Najar was one of the masterminds of the aerial infiltration into Israel on October 7th,” the IDF said in a statement monitored by Worthy News.
“Throughout the war, he was one of the leaders of the attacks against Israel and the IDF troops operating in central Gaza, employing explosive drones and [unmanned aerial vehicles] UAVs to target troops,” the IDF added on social media platform X.
There was no immediate comment from Hamas. However, the reported elimination of the leader came a day after Hamas said it had information that Israel intended to carry out a hostage rescue operation similar to one conducted in Gaza’s Nuseirat camp in June.
In response, the group threatened to “neutralize” the captives if any such action took place, according to several sources familiar with the situation.
Israel’s Nuseirat rescue operation on June 9 saw Israeli forces free four hostages in a raid Hamas-backed authorities said killed more than 200 people in one of the “bloodiest Israeli assaults” of the war.
TIGHTENED LIVING CONDITIONS
Hamas reportedly told its operatives to “tighten” the living conditions of the captives.
A “recommendations ” section told operatives to “activate neutralization orders…as an immediate and swift response to any adventure by the enemy.”
There was no immediate Israeli response to the statement.
On Wednesday, Israeli media cited Defense Minister Israel Katz as saying pressure on Hamas was increasing and this time, “we will really be able to advance a hostage deal.”
Israeli airstrikes have killed over 44,400 Palestinians, with nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents displaced, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The war has also leveled significant portions of the enclave, Hamas officials said.
Israel’s government says nearly half of those killed are Hamas fighters while others were used as “human shields” by Hamas, seen as a terrorist group by Israel and most of its allies.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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