In a joint operation carried out several days ago by the IDF and the Shin Bet, Mahmoud Ibrahim Hassan Abu Hatzeira—a Hamas terrorist in the Gaza Brigade—was eliminated in Gaza City.
Involved in the 2014 pillbox infiltration
The Nukhba terrorist participated in the infiltration carried out on July 28, 2014, during Operation Protective Edge. In that incident, Hamas Nukhba operatives emerged from a tunnel and attacked an IDF pillbox position in the Nahal Oz area. Five IDF soldiers were killed in the attack: Sgt. Daniel Kedmi z”l, Sgt. Barkai Yishai Shor z”l, Sgt. Sagi Erez z”l, Sgt. Dor Dery z”l, and Sgt. Nadav Raimond z”l. One additional soldier was wounded.
In recent years, Abu Hatzeira served as the personal military aide and right-hand man of senior Hamas commander Izz al-Din Haddad, head of Hamas’s Gaza Brigade. He held this position during the war and in the preparations leading up to the October 7 terror attack.
A series of targeted killings
Yesterday, the IDF Spokesperson cleared for publication that the IDF and Shin Bet struck in central Gaza around two weeks ago, eliminating Hamza Wael Muhammad Asfa, the head of a Nukhba cell in the Deir al-Balah Battalion. Asfa infiltrated into Israeli territory and took part in the murderous October 7 assault.
As part of his role in the terror group, Asfa also took part in the cynical “release ceremony” for returning Israeli civilians Eliyahu Sharabi, Ohad Ben-Ami, and Or Levi. According to the IDF Spokesperson, steps were taken ahead of the strike to minimize the risk of harm to civilians.
